Chungnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services Provides Guidelines for Open-Field Spring Potato Growth Management During Flowering Period

Pay Close Attention to Soil Moisture Management During Potato Flowering Season

Potato field landscape. / Provided by Chungnam Province

The Chungnam Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services announced on May 20 that special attention should be paid to crop growth and soil moisture management during the flowering period to ensure stable harvests and improved quality of open-field spring potatoes.

Potato tubers begin to form from the time flower buds appear until just before the flowers bloom, and they start to increase in size after flowering.

During this period, potato growth and yield can vary significantly depending on soil moisture conditions, making proper water supply extremely important.

If moisture is insufficient, the tubers will be smaller and of lower quality. On the other hand, excessive moisture can cause rot.

Watering methods include sprinkler or rain hose irrigation, as well as drip irrigation using drip hoses.

On sloped fields, sprinkler or drip irrigation is effective, while on flat fields, in addition to drip irrigation, furrow irrigation?where water is allowed to flow through the furrows?can also be used.

When irrigating furrows, it is important to ensure that water does not remain in the furrows for extended periods, and watering should be completed before the tubers are fully grown to prevent rot.

To prevent flooding damage caused by heavy rainfall during the harvest season, drainage ditches should be thoroughly maintained before and after rainfall.

Baek Incheol, a technical extension officer, stated, "Chungnam Province has the second largest spring potato cultivation area in the country and holds an important position in the potato industry. We will continue to provide technical support to local farmers to improve potato quality and increase yields."