Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
accordingly. Specific nutrient information is
provided later in the chapter.
equipment and potato storage, disease-resistant
varieties, neighboring crops that will not harbor
insect pests or mites, maintaining healthy potato
plants, the timing of planting, vine kill and har-
vest, and more.
Aside from major weeds like nightshade ( Sola-
num spp.) and common lambsquarters ( Chenopodi-
um album ), some economically important potato
pests include various nematode species, spider mites
( Tetranychus urticae ), aphids ( Myzus persicae and
Macrosiphum euphorbiae ), wireworms ( Agriotes spp.),
Colorado potato beetle ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata ),
slugs ( Arion spp.), larvae of various species within
the Lepidoptera family, black scurf ( Rhizoctonia
solani ), late blight ( Phytophthora infestans ), early
blight ( Alternaria solani ), powdery scab ( Spon-
gospora subterranea ), common scab ( Streptomyces
scabies and Streptomyces turgidiscabies ), silver
scurf ( Helminthosporium solani ), bacterial ring
rot ( Clavibacter michiganense subsp. sepedonicus ),
and various viruses like Potato virus Y (PVY),
X (PVX), A (PVA), S (PVS), Potato leaf roll virus (PLRV),
corky ringspot ( Tobacco rattle virus ), and Potato
mop-top virus (PMTV). Insect pests like aphids
not only damage plants via feeding but also by
vectoring viruses like PVY and PVA, which may
compromise yield (Nolte et al ., 2003).
Beneficial organisms include parasitoid
wasps ( Aphidius spp.), big-eyed bugs ( Geocoris
spp.), ladybird beetles ( Hippodamia convergens ,
Harmonia axyridis , and Coleomegilla maculate ),
lacewings ( Chrysopa spp. and Chrysoperia spp.),
and bacterial endotoxins like Bacillus thuringiensis
var. israelensis (Dreves et al ., 2009).
Major pests and management strategies are
not discussed in this chapter as they are covered in
detail throughout other chapters in this volume.
6.3
Pre-Plant Pest Management
Considerations
Pest management must be considered prior to
planting, as there are numerous options, many
of which involve chemical use. Fertilizers, fungi-
cides, insecticides, miticides, and herbicides can
all be applied through the overhead irrigation
systems. Because some products must be mixed
with or watered into the soil, growers without
overhead irrigation may have to incorporate
them via tillage or rainfall. To reduce tillage op-
erations, plant protection products like herbi-
cides may be incorporated with fertilizer during
the same tillage pass. Overhead irrigation pro-
vides more flexibility for pesticide application
timing than ground application because it does
not rely on tractors, which may be busy else-
where or restricted due to poor field and weather
conditions.
6.4
Integrated Pest Management
Potato production requires ample preparation to
prevent and manage season-long pest-related
issues. Together, canopy quality and duration,
and plant health are essential in obtaining high
yields of superior quality. Diseases, insects,
weeds, mites, and nematodes can all affect plant
health and reduce economic return. The idea be-
hind integrated pest management, or IPM, is to
prevent economically significant pest damage
holistically by utilizing and incorporating pro-
duction inputs and practices synergistic for opti-
mizing plant health. As an example, herbicides,
tillage, and proper crop rotation can all be used
together for weed prevention (Liebman et al .,
1996). By choosing a potato variety with a large
canopy and verticillium wilt resistance, weed
control via crop competition is likely farther into
the season when compared to a variety with
small, verticillium-susceptible vines. Components
and inputs key to potato IPM include crop rota-
tion, green manure crops, beneficial organisms
(insects, spiders, fungi, etc.), crop protection
chemicals, disease-free certified seed, sanitized
6.5
Field and Seedbed Preparation
Field and seedbed preparations are often spe-
cific to the growing region; what works in one
area may not work in another. There are con-
siderable regional differences such as expected
rainfall at various intervals during the season,
rock and clod removal or placement, potential
wind and water erosion prior to planting,
planting and harvest dates, irrigation type,
and grower preferences. Similar to most crop-
ping systems, fields destined for potato pro-
duction must be tilled to loosen the soil and
 
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