Potato Eighth to ninth week practices

To increase the number of tubers per plant, spray 0:52:34 (N:P:K) because tubers production depends upon phosphorus quantity in soil at this time.

Charcoal Rot (Macrophmina phaseoli)-

The roots of the affected plants become brown in colour. The rotting starts on the stem portion. The skin of the stern becomes ash coloured. Line dark lesions appear at the lenticels of the tubers and also round the stern end of tuber. Charcoal rot is common during the hot and dry months in late season crops. 

Control Measures- 

1. Obtain disease free seed tubers for planting. Hill potatoes are nearly free from this pathogen. 
2. Grow early maturing varieties such as Kufri Alankar or Kufri Chandramukhi. 
3. Irrigate crop at regular intervals. 
4. Seed tubers may be treated with agalal-6 or aretan at 0.25 per cent solution before storage. The treated tubers should not be eaten.