Anhydrous ammonia has long been used as a preplant and side dressing fertiliser in the cotton and grain industries. It results in a high retention of nitrogen in the soil, reduced leaching of nitrates through the soil and yield increases in various crops. However, it needs to be treated with care as it can cause injury to farm workers.

This case study provides a unique long-term grower perspective on using compost on a commercial vegetable farm. Learn more from Sam Calameri of Baldivis Farms in Western Australia who started trialing compost on-farm more than 10 years ago.

Want to regain control over chemical-resistant pests? Aiming to reduce costs while meeting quality assurance requirements? This factsheet covers the management of soilborne diseases,.

Want to regain control over chemical-resistant pests? Aiming to reduce costs while meeting quality assurance requirements? This fact sheet covers the basics of protecting your crop.

This Hort Innovation report covers the efforts made to maintain a large bank of different potato varieties, and what they are good for. Specific focus was made on viral resistance, disease resistance, specific gravity and various cooking factors. Potatoes from Europe to America are included in this potato bank.

Currently, Colorado potato beetles are not a pest in Australia. But if you’re interested in learning more, this factsheet by Plant Health Australia provides information on what the beetle is, what it looks like, what it can be confused with and how to protect your farm from the pest.

A three-year project in Tasmania was conducted on the potential benefits of using degradable polyethylene films in potato crops. This 2013 report found there was limited benefit to nitrogen fertiliser savings and yield but instead may allow for early harvest and some water saving.

This Hort Innovation report explores the genetics behind breeding new varieties of potatoes. The report looks into developing genetic analysis tools to improve cultivar selection and development. With a focus on improving resistance to potato cyst nematodes and potato virus Y this 2012 paper provides great insight into how new cultivars are chosen.

During the 1990s the SA processing potato industry expanded rapidly, developing a range of crop monitoring and management tools. This 2006 Hort Innovation report refines and brings these together, with specific information on plant nutrition, pest and disease management and irrigation.

This 2005 Hort Innovation study involved a survey of packers, supply chain monitoring and storage trials. Storage and transport temperatures ranged from 4C to ambient, with washed potatoes more likely to be cooled that brushed or dirty potatoes.

Soil insects are difficult to detect and can cause blemishes on potatoes that may reduce quality. This 2005 Hort Innovation report sets out guidelines on monitoring soil insects and potential management strategies that could be implemented.

This 2004 Best Practice guide for handling and storing seed potatoes includes information and checklists as well as reference information on critical times and temperatures and a troubleshooting guide.

This 2003 report proposes guidelines on site-specific nitrogen management using ‘real-time’ monitoring tools. By looking at plant, stem and tuber numbers, yield, tuber size and quality and previous paddock history the impact of nitrogen on a seed crop was determined.

This 2003 report found the most common cause of decay was identified as bacterial soft rot (Erwinia carotivora). Calcium fertiliser levels and tuber calcium content was explored in this report alongside the importance of sourcing clean certified seed.