Dear readers! In this issue, we will talk about the end of the 2019 season at the AgroAlliance-NN seed farm (Nizhny Novgorod Region), specializing in the production of European potato varieties (company breeding HZPC Sadokas) high reproductions.
FEATURES OF THE YEAR
Weather regularly brings diversity to the life of the farmer. Thanks to the intervention of natural forces, each season has its own characteristics. This year, for example, in our region, the first problem was drought, which lasted from late May to early June. Lack of moisture during an important period for plants led to a decrease in the number of ovaries of tubers under the bush in varieties Sylvan and Red Scarlett. Later on, wet and warm weather contributed to the rapid growth and development of potatoes: by mid-July, the fractional potatoes were ready for harvesting.
COLLECTION
Harvesting works, as planned, started on August 12, but almost immediately stopped - the rains began. Field harvesting resumed only on 19 August. The separation of the soil was good, the absence of stones made it possible to carry out the harvesting with high quality and without losses. Unlike last year (when the harvesting took place in dry weather - more about this in magazine No. 4, 2018), this season, tubers trauma (mechanical damage) was minimized. As a result, despite all the oddities of the weather, we have grown a good crop of potato seeds.
COMMENTS FOR RESULTS
The lion's share - 78,5% - of the received volume of seed potatoes of the 2019 harvest in our farm are tubers of the standard fraction. This was achieved thanks to the timely and high-quality removal of tops (taking into account the experience of previous years of work).
Insignificantly, but the yield and standard indicators of potatoes of the Red Scarlett variety have decreased. The main reason is the consequences of the drought, which we wrote about above.
STORAGE BOOK
During harvesting, the potatoes were immediately inspected, divided into fractions and put into storage. Daily analysis of incoming raw materials was carried out in order to have an objective assessment of seed quality. At the end of the treatment period, all varieties of potatoes were tested for viruses.
We have been trusting the assessment of crop quality for several years LLC Small Innovative Enterprise "Laboratory for the Control of Potato Quality" (Samara Region). Diagnostic samples are taken in the presence of our project partners.
Currently, the samples are already in the laboratory, the results of the research we will receive in late November.
PREPARING FOR THE NEXT SEASON
For the next year's harvest, a fall has been raised, the plowing depth is 30-32 cm. Mineral fertilizers have been introduced according to cartograms and the planned yield.