101: Managing irrigation
Growing crops in Australia is not for the faint-hearted, especially when it comes to managing water. The challenge lies in the fact that we often have either too little or too much water, and not always at the right time. Farmers cannot rely on gentle, frequent rain to replenish soil water levels; managing water for crops needs deliberate and considered intervention. Read the full article in Issue 13 of PotatoLink Magazine.
Towards reduced emissions on australian potato farms
As the global community grapples with the impacts of climate change, the horticultural sector faces mounting pressure to transition towards more sustainable practices, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture production. In Australia, there is plenty of scope for potato farms to adopt various strategies to begin their journey to reduced emissions from production. Read the full article in Issue 13 of PotatoLink magazine.
The front line exotic pest profile: Colorado potato beetle
The exotic Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) (CPB) is globally considered one of the most economically damaging pests to the potato industry. CPB is native to North America and widespread. It has hitchhiked its way to Europe and northern Asia, where it has since spread rapidly and established. Read the full article in Issue 13 of PotatoLink magazine.
Can you shock a seed?
Handling and storing seed correctly is essential to maximise returns on this valuable investment, and avoiding condensation during cooling is critical to minimise the risk of storage diseases. To achieve this, seed potatoes are usually cooled very slowly, dropping only 2oC weekly. In this PotatoLink trial, we tested the effects of three cooling rates. Read the full article in Issue 13 of PotatoLink magazine.
Helping potatoes help themselves: inducing plant defences
Just like us, plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to defend themselves against pests and pathogens. One of the most intriguing strategies is 'Induced Systemic Resistance' (ISR). Specific microbes or environmental triggers can activate the plant defences, improving its ability to ward off attack or cope with stress. And we can help that happen. Read the full article in Issue 13 of PotatoLink magazine.
Storage diseases
When the potatoes have been harvested, graded and put into storage a great weight has been lifted. The spuds aren’t going to be stuck in the ground due to late season rain. Grubs and bugs aren’t going to start affecting the tubers, and it looks like most of the disease issues have been avoided. They’re safe. Except there is another consideration, and that is storage diseases, discussed in this PotatoLink magazine article.
Harvest and storage
Harvest is where all the effort and expense that has gone into growing the crop finally comes to ‘tuberition’. It is where money can be made or lost, and where the grower finally, conclusively, finds out what has been happening under their feet. Read about how to get the most out of your harvest and how to correctly store potatoes in this PotatoLink magazine article.
Moisture monitoring – A PotatoLink demonstration
Beyond providing soil moisture data at a given time and soil depth, can soil moisture probes help in making future irrigation decisions? The potential of moisture probes to serve a dual role was the subject of a PotatoLink demonstration trial are discussed in this PotatoLink magazine article.
Mini guide – selected warm weather pests and diseases
During the Australian summer, potatoes are susceptible to various pests and diseases that can thrive in the warm and humid conditions. Get the mini guide in this PotatoLink Magazine article.
Controlling soilborne diseases and pest with biofumigants
The soil ecosystem directly impacts crop yield and quality. In recent years, there has been growing interest in sustainable farming practices that improve soil's biological, chemical and physical characteristics. Biofumigation is one of these sustainable practices discussed in this PotatoLink magazine article.
Management of recently established leafminers
Three new species of Lyriomyza leafminer flies are now present in Australia including, American Serpentine Leafminer (ASLM (Liriomyza trifolii)), Serpentine Leafminer (SLM (Liriomyza huidobrensis)), and Vegetable Leafminer (VLM (Liriomyza sativae)). Read more in this PotatoLink magazine article by Shakira Johnson, AUSVEG.
Effect of heat on potatoes
What happens when climate change impacts one of the world’s most important foods? With a burgeoning global population, food security is one of the most complex problems of our time, and our rapidly warming planet complicates the problem further. Read more in this PotatoLink magazine article.
PotatoLink demonstration: Using biologicals in a commercial farm setting
A recent PotatoLink demonstration trial at Springbank, Vic, investigated the impact of farm practices on the effectiveness of biologicals, including the application of fungicides, the influence of soil nutrient availability, and fertiliser applications. In Issue 10 of PotatoLink magazine you will find all the details of the trial as well as the results.
A new potato virus vector monitoring program
Australian Seed Potato Industry Certification Authority (AuSPICA) has introduced an innovative solution to monitor insect vectors in potato crops. Passive suction traps installed in the field take samples of potential virus vectors, which are then sent to Intertek laboratories for rapid DNA analysis. The data developed builds information on the presence of potato virus vectors during the growing season and in the long term, builds trends on vector populations in potato growing regions.
Read the full story in Issue 10 of PotatoLink magazine.
Getting the most out of Bureau of Meteorology data
Following a PotatoLink online training webinar with senior members of the Bureau of Meteorology, Paulette Baumgartl has compiled a comprehensive article in Issue 09 of PotatoLink magazine pointing out that behind the weekly temperature and rainfall forecasts, and the much-loved radar, sits an abundance of data, both raw and interpreted. If you know where to look, this data can be a useful decision-making tool.
Impact of seed spacing on potato yield and size
Potato growers know that seed is an expensive input not to be wasted. And inefficient planting and spacing, including skips and doubles, can be costly.
Optimising seed spacing provides a real opportunity to minimise inputs while maximising yield. To evaluate the economic impact of poor planter performance, PotatoLink conducted a demonstration on the impact of seed spacing on potato yield and size.
Reduced tillage in potatoes
Reduced tillage agriculture has emerged as a sustainable and innovative approach to farming, offering numerous benefits to both farmers and the environment. This PotatoLink magazine article, shares some examples of growers who have incorporated reduced tillage into their farm practice and research seeking to quantify outcomes when tillage practices are altered.
Soil Physics 101
Understanding and managing the interacting components of soil health - physical, biological and chemical factors - is essential to create robust and productive soils that are able to sustain commercial potato production. This PotatoLink magazine article examines some aspects of soil physical properties and how they impact agricultural practice (and how agricultural practices impact soil physical properties).