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What is the objective of soil tillage?

by | Aug 30, 2020 | Blog, Uncategorized

Soil tillage is to create favourable growing conditions for the plant and it is practised for many reasons which include:

1. The establishment of a seedbed for sprouting and root development – Good aeration and contact between seed tuber and soil must be accomplished.

2. Favourable subsoil must be created for good root distribution and plant rests (organic matter) must be well incorporated.

3. Weed control – accomplished by shallow tillage.

4. Soil and water preservation, upper soil layers should be kept loose to facilitate water penetration and limit wind and water erosion.

5. Incorporation and mixing of soil amendments, for example, fertiliser and lime as well as the breakup of impermeable soil.

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POTATO FARMING GUIDES

Guide1: Selecting and Handling Potato Seed

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Guide 4: Monitoring Growth Stages of Potato

The growth of a potato can be broken down into five stages.   The table above has been reproduced with permission from Johnson, D. A., ed., 2008, Potato Health Management, 2nd ed., American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. Growth Stage I: Sprout...