Potato

Soil Preparation

• Potato grows best in loamy, well-drained, and fertile soil.
• Optimum soil pH: 5.5–6.8.
• Deep plough the field 2–3 times, followed by harrowing and planking.
• Apply well-rotted Farm Yard Manure (FYM) @ 3–4 tons per acre before the last ploughing.
• Ensure proper drainage to avoid waterlogging.

Planting Time (Regional)

Region Planting Time
Punjab (Autumn crop) September – October
Punjab (Spring crop) January – February
KPK (Plain areas) October – November
KPK (Hilly areas) February – March

Seed and Seed Rate

• Use certified seed tubers (28–45 mm size).
• Seed rate: 8–10 bags (250–300 kg) per acre.
• Treat seed before planting with Portible 70%WP against the fungal infections carried on the tuber, and with Motect 48%EC against soil insects. They are not alternatives — Motect is chlorpyrifos and has no action on a fungus.
• Cut large tubers into 2 pieces (each with 2–3 eyes).
• Dry cut pieces for 1 day before planting.

Planting Method

• Use ridge and furrow method for proper aeration.
• Row spacing: 24–30 inches (60–75 cm)
• Plant spacing: 9–12 inches (22–30 cm)
• Depth: 3–4 inches (7–10 cm)

Fertilizer Requirement (Per Acre)

Fertilizer Quantity Time of Application
DAP (18:46:0) 2 bags (100 kg) At planting
Urea (46% N) 2.5 bags (125 kg) Half at planting, half at earthing-up
SOP 1.5 bags (75 kg) 30 days after planting
FYM 3–4 tons Before last ploughing
Agritas Zinc 10 kg Early vegetative stage
Use SOP instead of MOP to prevent chloride toxicity.

Irrigation Schedule

• First irrigation: Immediately after planting.
• Subsequent irrigations: Every 7–10 days depending on soil moisture.
• Avoid overwatering during tuber formation.
• Stop irrigation 10–15 days before harvest for better skin setting.

Earthing Up (Soil Mounding)

• First earthing: 25–30 days after planting.
• Second earthing: 15–20 days after first one.
• Helps tuber development and prevents greening.

Weed Control

Weed Damage Control Product
Bathu (Lambsquarters) Comes up with the sprouts and covers the ridge before the haulm closes, taking the water and nitrogen the tubers are built on. Hand weeding after the first irrigation, before the haulm closes over the ridge
Krund (Nettle-leaf Goosefoot) Crowds the ridge sides through the cool months and takes the top dressing while the tubers are filling. Pull it out with the earthing up, before it seeds
Khabbal Grass (Bermuda Grass) Runs its rhizomes through the ridge and takes water and nitrogen from the tubers all season. Drag the rhizomes out with the pre-plant ploughing; every broken piece starts again
Purple Nutsedge (Deela) Spears up through the ridge in the warm weeks after planting and shares the water and nitrogen of the young crop. Hoe at each earthing up; the tubers underground survive and it comes again
Horse Purslane (Itsit) Covers the ridge of the October crop in its first warm weeks and drinks the irrigation the sprouts need. Hand weeding after each irrigation, while the plants are still small

• Pre-emergence: Pendimethalin 33%EC at 1 litre per acre, on a moist, settled ridge immediately after planting and before the sprouts break through. This is the only spray this section asks for.
• Manual weeding: After each irrigation if needed.
• After emergence: no spray here touches khabbal grass or deela — take them out with the two earthing-up passes and hand weeding while the plants are still small.

Insect Pests and Control

Pest Damage Recommended Agritas Product
Cutworm Cuts young plants at base Tueric 11%SC
Aphids Suck plant sap, spread virus D-Pest 25%WP
Potato Tuber Moth Larvae damage tubers Veento 1.9%EC
Whitefly / Thrips Leaf curling, virus spread Rancho 20%SP

Diseases and Control

Disease Symptoms Recommended Agritas Product
Late Blight Brown leaf spots, tuber rot Cure Jet 72%WP
Early Blight Target-like spots on leaves Espot 50%SC
Black Scurf Black patches on tubers Plant certified seed dressed with a fungicide, and lift the crop once the haulm has died rather than leaving it in the ground. Motect 48%EC is an insecticide and does nothing to this fungus
Common Scab Rough corky patches Keep the soil on the acid side and the ridges evenly moist through tuber set, and rotate away from potato. It is caused by a bacterium, not a fungus, so no fungicide reaches it

Harvesting

• Crop matures in 90–120 days after planting.
• Harvest when foliage turns yellow and dry.
• Avoid damaging tubers during harvest.
• Dry in shade for 2–3 days before storage.

Yield

• Good yield: 80–100 maunds (4–5 tons) per acre under good management.

For Agronomic Support or Product Info
Agritas Helpline: +92 336 1111 130

Pests & diseases of Potato

Thripsmedium Whiteflyhigh Aphidsmedium Cutwormmedium Potato Tuber Mothhigh Bathu (Lambsquarters)medium Late Blighthigh Early Blightmedium Cotton Leaf Curl Virushigh Bacterial Leaf Blighthigh Black Scurfmedium Common Scabmedium Zinc Deficiency (Khaira)medium Boron Deficiencymedium Nitrogen Deficiencymedium Phosphorus Deficiencymedium Potassium Deficiencymedium Micronutrient Deficiencymedium