Dr. S.K. Dutta & Dr. Badal BhattacharyyaDepartment of Entomology

Assam Agricultural University,Jorhat-13

Cultural Practices and Resistant Varieties in Potato

Summer deep ploughing (end of July to middle of August) to expose the different life stages of soil insect pests to expose them

to predatory birds and desiccation by sunlight

Fig. 1. Predatory birds feeding on insects exposed by summer

deep ploughing

Fig. 2. White grubs collected after summer summer deep ploughing

Source: www.ainpwgosa.com

Follow crop rotation to avoid pest infestation in potato

Crop Sequence:

Rice-Rice-Potato

Summer Rice – potato

Rice-Potato-Cowpea

Rice-Potato-Green gram

Adjustment of planting and harvesting time for avoidance of insect infestation

Fig. 3. Harvesting of potatoes

Source:http://www.angelicorganics.com/Newsletters/2008Week16VegNewsWed.html

Maintain weed free crop initially up to six weeks after planting by resorting to two hand hoeing / earthing up operations at 3rd and 6th

weeks of planting

Fig. 4. Earthing up in potato field

Source: AINP on White grub, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-13

Ensure growing of healthy crops with optimum plant population (1,30,000 plants/ha ) by using recommended seed rate (22.5-25

q/ha) and balanced doses of fertilizers (NPK @ 60:50:50 in rainfed and 60:100:100 in irrigated condition)

Adjustment of planting time of summer crop in hilly areas to prevent aphid attack

Prepare high ridges to avoid exposure of seed tubers to egg laying by potato tuber moth

Fig. 5. High ridging in potato

Source: AINP on White grub, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-13

Keeping plant debris/green grasses at different locations of cut worm infested field in the evening, which serve as hiding places for cut

worm larvae , where they could be destroyed next day

Fig. 6. Cut worms exposed from under green grassSource: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.saferbrand.com/resource

Allow time for previous crop residue to decompose

Fig. 7. Decomposition of crop residues

Source: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm2.static.flickr.com

Rouging of volunteer potato plants to reduce aphid infestation

Fig. 8. Rogueing of volunteer potato plants

Source: http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&biw=1090&bih=462&gbv=2&tbm=isch&sa

Removal and destruction of infested tubers to check tuber moth infestation in both storage and field conditions

Fig. 9. Potato tubers infested by tuber moth

Source: http://thesecondgreenrevolution.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

Do not keep harvested potato tubers in the field to prevent egg laying by tuber moth

X Fig. 10. Keeping harvested potato in field

Source:http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www. hrefresh.com/

Fig. 11.Potato infested by tuber mothSource:http://www.google.com/imgres?im gurl=http://www.inra.fr/hyppz/IMAGES

Grow potato in well pulverized soil. Proper soil pulverization decreases wireworm population both by direct injury and by exposing them to desiccation or predation by birds

Fig. 12. wire worms

Source:http://www.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fruitandveggie.com

Fig. 13. Proper pulverization of soil decreases wire worm population

Source:http://www.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://cdn.wn.com

Standing water for short period before sowing can help to eliminate the eggs of mole crickets

Fig. 14. Keeping standing water in field for short period

Source: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo- tips/landscape-photos/#/potato-field-india_21021_600x450.jpg

Construct raised nursery to reduce the seedling damage by mole crickets

Fig.15. Construction of raised potato nursery

Source: http://www.kvktuensang.org.in/gallery.html

Potato crop irrigated at 30 and 60 days after germination reduces red ant infestation in potato

Fig. 16. Irrigation in potato field

Source: AINP on White grub, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-13

Liming @ 3.5 quintal/hectare prior to sowing of potato tubers reduces red ant infestation

Fig. 17. Lime

Source: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl

Pulling and burning of heavily mite infested potato plants

Fig. 18. Burning of potato plants

Source: / http://evapm.deviantart.com/art/Burning-Potato-Stems-139402088

Abundant ground water, straw retention technique and soils with high organic matter content provide ideal moisture level and shelter to snails and slugs. In snail endemic areas such conditions may be discouraged to a preferable extent or kept at optimum.

Fig. 19.Snails and slugs

Source http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ddandkw.com

Avoid planting new crops downwind from those infested with mites, as the mites will be spread to the new crop by the wind.

Resistant variety

Kufri Chandramukhi may be grown in aphid/leaf roll/ potato virus Y endemic areas