To prevent potato rot after cutting, it's best to cut the tubers 2 to 3 days before they begin to sprout. This practice not only helps in early emergence but also reduces the amount of seed potatoes needed.
When it comes to seed size and cutting methods, potatoes weighing 50 grams or less can be planted whole. For those between 51 and 100 grams, a vertical cut is recommended. Seed potatoes weighing 100 to 150 grams should be cut diagonally into four pieces. For larger tubers (150 grams or more), it’s advisable to make chamfer cuts along the length, forming triangular-shaped pieces. Each piece must have at least two healthy buds. During the cutting process, try to use the apical dominance by prioritizing tubers with top buds. Always position the knife close to the eye to encourage root growth. Be careful not to create large wounds; avoid slicing or wedging the tubers unnecessarily.
A typical potato block weighs around 35–40 grams, with approximately 25 pieces per kilogram. Each block should have two or more viable buds to ensure strong germination.
Before starting the cutting process, it's essential to disinfect the knives. Use either 75% alcohol or a 0.5% potassium permanganate solution. It's recommended to use two knives per person, alternating them to maintain hygiene. When one knife is in use, the other should be soaked in the disinfectant. After cutting each potato, the knife should be wiped clean and disinfected immediately. If any rotten or diseased potato is found, it should be discarded right away. If a diseased potato is cut, the tool must be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly before continuing.
To further prevent rot, you can treat the cut seed potatoes with plant ash or a seed dressing. For the plant ash method: mix 2 kg of ash, 100 g of metalaxyl, and 2 liters of water for every 50 kg of cut potatoes. After treatment, do not pile them up—store them in bags in a dry, spare room for 24–48 hours before planting. For the pharmaceutical seed dressing, combine 2 kg of 70% thiophanate methyl chloride, 1 kg of 72% agricultural streptomycin, and 50 kg of talcum powder. Mix well and apply 2 kg of this mixture per 50 kg of cut seed potatoes. The dressing must be applied within 30 minutes of cutting to be effective.
There are several precautions to consider when cutting seed potatoes. First, avoid cutting if the soil is too wet or dry, or if the temperature is extreme. Under normal weather conditions, soil temperature is usually manageable, but excessive moisture should be avoided. Second, don't cut seed potatoes that are too old—look for signs like soft hairs, wrinkled skin, or sprouts longer than 2 cm, as these increase the risk of rot. Third, seed potatoes under 50 grams should not be cut. Fourth, during summer or autumn planting, high humidity and heat can lead to rot, so cutting is generally not recommended. Always remove any sweet, diseased, or weak bud potatoes before cutting. Ensure all tools are properly disinfected to prevent disease transmission and reduce the risk of rot. Many diseases, such as potato virus, late blight, bacterial wilt, and ring rot, can spread through contaminated tools.
Mango Freeze Dried Powder,Additive-free Strawberry Powder,Pineapple Powder Fruit Powder, Coconut Water Protein
Xi'an Hersoncare Bio-Tech Co., Ltd , https://www.hersoncarebio.com