Management of potatoes under wet conditions

While flooding rains provide much needed relief to parched catchments and water tables, too much rainfall has consequences that are numerous and complex for potato growing.

Challenges for growers are evident at every stage, from managing seed, planting, crop management and storage.

Key points in this article by Paulette Baumgartl in Issue 8 of Potatolink magazine are:

• Plant cover crops/green manure to improve soil physical properties that can better cope with wet conditions

• Ensure hills are stable and water can drain away in furrows. Reassess furrows following heavy rain

• Closely monitor nutrient levels, particularly in sandy soils, or if sub-soils are waterlogged

• Check moisture content of soil at different levels. A shovel is your best friend!

• If soil moisture below 25cm is at field capacity, the root system will be severely impacted

• Make sure hills are staying in place

• Avoid harvesting when soil conditions are wet; this will save soil structure and machinery.