Potato Seminar 25 September 2014

Feico Born - Vangelis Evangelou

Knowledge And

understanding

Paradigma

Do you see the old lady……

Many times we look to a

situation from a different

perspective

…..or the young one?

Potato growing is like a puzzle

• Different factors influence the growth of the crop • If you look to each individual factor it looks complex

Potato growing is like a puzzle

• With potato growing we see part of the end result: like part of the picture

• Some parts are known, some parts we don’t understand yet

Potato growing is like a puzzle

• Sometimes we see that things appear • And we see quite a good part of the picture

Potato growing is like a puzzle

• With additional research and understanding we improve the quality of the crop

• We obtain for a better product for grower and consumer

Potato growing is like a puzzle

• Start with “the end in mind” according to Stevin Covey > set your goals of how do you want to organise the potato crop

• We look for the strength of each factor!

The strength of different competences

Every body brings his own

competences

Recognize the competences of

eachother contributes to better

result.

Working together makes the

picture more clear

The wonderfull nice thing is that you all have parts of the puzzle in your hand!!

Agenda

What Question to answer

Potato seed quality How can we reach the best result for the farmer

Water usage, soil structure and fertilizer

How can we use the water more efficient to get better quality?

Workshop How can be combine the knowledge in the country

Not coming to promote (HZPC) varieties

Agenda

1. Potato seed

a) Growth and harvest Holland

b) NAK cerification and HZPC norm

c) Arrival in Cyprus; preperation of seed and cutting

d) Seed handling after cutting

2. Water use, soil structure and fertilization

a) What is the importance of water use?

b) Soil structure

c) What is the relationship with fertilizer

d) Why do we see in many cases to much water, what are the negative points of it.

e) Which effect over irrigation has on the tuber quality and export quality

3. Workshop:

a) Split into groups

b) Choose a subject for discussion

c) Note on paper

d) Give feedback to the group

Harvest of the seed

1 harvest 2 control in the tractor 3 Onloading the trailer

1

2 3

Put in store

4 Removing soil

5 Inspection before put in boxes

6 Put direct into boxes

4

5 6

7 Annabelle in boxes

8 Drying outside

9 Storage inside

AFTER DRYING GRADING FOR EXPORT

7

8

9

Field inspection tolerances (EU compared to Netherlands)

EU NL (NAK)

Virus Basic seed: 4,0% Class S: 0,025%

Class SE: 0,05%

Certified seed: 10% Class E: 0,1%

Class A: 2%

Erwinia Basic seed: 2% Class S: 0%

Class SE: 0%

Certified seed: 4% Class E: 0%

Class A: 0,03%

Lot inspection tolerances (EU compared to NL and HZPC)

EU NL (NAK) HZPC

Wet rot 1% of weight practically none same

Dry rot 1% of weight 1 or 2 tubers / 50 kg same

Phytophthora 1% of weight 1 per 100 kg same

Common scab

max 1/3 of surface and 5% above

each tuber max 1/8 surface

2/3 of tubers max 1/16 of surface

Silver scurf not specified no soft tubers max 25% covered with 1/3

Rhizoctonia not specified S/SE max 10% light same

not specified E/A/B max 25% light E/A/B max 15% light

External defects

3% of weight 4-12 per 50 kg same

Adhering soil 2% of weight 1% of weight same

HZPC Quality standard

– HZPC Quality standard

– Quality check by NAK

– To promote outstanding (external) quality

NAK-standard HZPC-standard

Scab Scale 2½ Scale 1½

Rhizoctonia <25% light < 15% light

Silver scurf No soft tubers <10% with 1/3

We sell both qualities!

Scab scales

Scab scales

33% of the number of tubers is free from common scab,

The remaining 66% may have 2-4 small shallow lesions

covering max 1/16 of the tuber’s surface.

Nearly all tubers are affected by common scab.

Each tuber may have 5-10 scab lesions covering max 1/8

of the tuber’s surface.

Nearly all tubers are affected by common scab.

Each tuber may have 4-8 scab lesions covering max

1/12 of the tuber’s surface.

Rhizoctonia scale

Rhizoctonia 10% light Rhizoctonia 25% light

Basic seed production

• Selected group of seed potato growers

• High quality and hygiene standards

• Inspections by NAK

• Field inspection

• Post harvest control

– PCR test on virus + Erwinia (>2014 all lots)

• Lot inspection

• Inspections by HZPC

• Field inspection

• PCR-test on Erwinia (since 2011)

• Only the best quality basic seed lots or used (2/3 of total)

• Premium for farmer on class S/SE if suitable as basic seed

Quality protocol (HZPC)

– Basic material: Field inspection by HZPC field managers

• Best of the class S/SE is used as basic seed (± 70%)

– Observation of external quality by HZPC field managers

during grading

• Selection of the best suitable lot for each country / client

• Usage of only new bags, desinfected boxes, clean trucks

– Check in the harbor before embarkation,

on external quality

NAK Certificates

Certification class

Grower number

(traceability)

Certified according

the HZPC-norm

Arrival in Cyprus

1 Seed storage

2 Empty Bigbag

3 Storage seed in the shadow with

natural ventilation

1

3

2

What are we planting and later eating

WATER 78,3%

PROTEIN 2,2%

STARCH 18,0%

ASH 1,0%

FAT 0,1%

CRUDE FIBERS 0,4%

Definition: dry matter

We don’t see only good lots……. > Risks?

• Less energy > lower yield

• Higher change of infections

– Erwinia

– Phusarium

– Phoma

– Etc.

• Change of missing plants

• Change of poor result

Dormancy and sprouting factors

• Seed crop during growth (Seed grower Holland / Cyprus)

– Amount of Nitrogen > higher > shorter dormancy

– Moment of crop killing > early shorter dormancy

– Time between crop killing and harvest > short > shorter dormancy

• Storage of seed

– Temperature > lower > longer dormancy (3-6 degrees)

– CO2 > higher > shorter dormancy

– Fluctuation of temperature > Increase of respiration

– Air humidity > condensation bad influence on vitality and diseases

• Break of Dormancy

– Ininitiated by hormones Auxine and Giberaline

– Transformation of starch into sugars

• Vitality of the tuber (Germ power)

– Vital, just out of dormancy > appical sprout > remove

– Vital seed, > higher tuber count in daughter tubers

– Damaged or cut seed > earlier sprouting, but change of weakness

– Sprouted tubers > increase of respiration and maturing

– Soft tubers > Physiological old LESS GERM POWER

Planting check

• Take care for vital seed

• Well hardened sprout gives

best result

• Check the planting depth

The start for a good growing season

• Conclusion

– Use good certified seed

– Check directly the seed quality at arrival

– Store at the good conditions

– The growing season starts at the moment of arrival of the

seed!

– Work hygienic at the the moment of cutting

– Let the wound cure in the right conditions

– Start with vital seed to plant

Part one seed quality

Questions

Water usage in potato

Water usage, soil structure and fertilizer

How can we use the water more efficient to get better quality?

Water use, soil structure and fertilization a) What is the importance of water use? b) Soil structure c) What is the relationship with fertilizer d) Why do we see in many cases to much water, what are the negative

points of it. e) Which effect over irrigation has on the tuber quality and export

quality

Water usage in potato

• Water availability is getting more difficult

• Plant needs water as part of the photosynthesis for good yield

• Function of water and relation with nutrients

• Can we reduce the water quantity without result of lower yield?

• 30% of the water problem can be solved by giving less!

• We see relative normal quantities

• Extreme drougth 2007 -2008

• 2008- 2010 dams were full again

• Last few years again dry

• We need here one slight of the rainfall of the last 15 years

How is transport in the plants and build up of

starch?

Relation of nutrients

Effect of pH

38

K, Ca, and Mg most

available at pH > 6.0.

P availability is usually

greatest in the pH

range of 5.5 to 6.8.

At pH values less than

5.0, soluble Al, Fe, and

Mn may be toxic to the

growth of some plants.

Most micronutrients

(except Mo and B) are

more available in acid

than alkaline soils.

Red village area Liopetri

Paphos

Soil texture

sand 2 µm - 2 mm

silt 2 µm - 50µm

clay < 2 µm

Soil texture

Soil – water capacity

Paphos Xylophagou

Liopetri

DACOM SOLUTIONS

Irrigation management

Check your humidity : the potato is talking to you!

• Starts with understanding

• Look first than action!

• Water quantity is depending on the

growth stage!

• We talk about shortage of water

but many times to much water is

applied.

If we look to the plant leaf

Magnesium, build of chlorophyl

Potassium in guard cell of

Stomata

When

temperature

gows higher

than 25

degrees

stomata start

to close!

So less

photosynthesis

When using irrigation ?

Best uptake of water between 5 – 25 degrees Important role fo Mn Mg, P, K 25 degrees Stomate will close! > 25 degrees less growth Not enough water (wilting leaves)

and to much water will (gutation) will result in lower yields!!

Mg

K

Water consumption is also a function of evapotranspiration, which depends on sunlight, temperature, humidity, air and wind.

HOW TO REACH THE BEST QUALITY ?

AIR

WATER

NUTRIENTS

IMPORTANCE OF THE SOIL TEXTURE WITHIN THE RIDGE

Through LENTICELLS

Through ROOT SYSTEM

With water

SWOLLEN LENTICELLS

• Lenticels are breathing pore on the surface of a stem. Potatoes are

underground modified stems and are indeed covered in these small pores.

• Lenticels swell when soil is flooded or at excessive free moisture.

• It shows that the tubers are struggling to gain enough oxygen.

• After a certain period of time, lenticels will swell further and will let the

suberin layer, forming masses raised to the surface of the skin of the tuber.

• The enlargement can be quite dramatic and may even cause eruption of

soft tissues.

SWOLLEN LENTICELLS

CONSEQUENCES

• The bursting of the suberin layer makes the tubers vulnerable

to many infections.

OPEN DOOR FOR DISEASES

CONSEQUENCES

Erwinia / pcc

CONSEQUENCES

Scab entered through lenticells

What happens in the soil with to dry or to much water

Too much Too dry

Spoiling of water Hard soil

Dying root system Poor root system

Leaching of nutrients Less uptake of nutrients

Lower oxygen in the soil Higher stress conditions in soil

Swollen lenticells on the tuber.

Higher disease change Erwinia Fungi

More misshapen tubers

Lower quality for packing / export

CONSEQUENCES

• Rottening into the supermarkets and shorter shelf life.

How to avoid enlarged lenticells

• Avoid growing potatoes in water saturated

conditions

• Don't overirrigate. Keep the soil moist but not soggy

• Ensure soils are well drained, and not compacted

• Encourage freshly harvested tubers to dry off after

washing and have good ventilation

Irrigation systems

• Sprinkler

• Pivot (line and circle)

• Kanon

• Drip irrigation

– On top of the row

– Between the rows

Look which system suits you the best!

Water usage

• Summary

– Water in potato growing is threat and challenge

– Understanding the circumstances of growth

– Check visual and manual what happens.

– Measure differences

– Look for the best methode for Cyprus

• Questions?

Workshop:

a) Split into groups

b) There is a subject on the table

(10 - 15 minutes)

c) Note on paper

d) Give feedback to the group

Choose your theme

Subjects

1. Our farmers; know enough / don’t know enough about seed quality

2. Water availability is a fear, but we see a change

3. Communication to our farmers can be improved.

Answer 4 questions:

A. We see the following issues appearing

B. This is caused by

C. We see the following solutions

D. ……. Could help us

• Dia’s below could be used, but is not nescescarry

16 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

C, H, O From CO2 and H2O

Not considered as mineral nutrients

13 ESSENTIAL MINERALS These are absorbed by plant roots

Macronutrients Micronutrients

Required in limited quantities

Primary Secondary

Required in large quantities

Needed in largest amounts Needed in lesser amounts

N

P

K

Ca

S

Mg

Fe, Zn,

Mn, Cu,

B, Mo, Cl

Always

classified

as essential

Sometimes

classified

as essential

Co

Ni

Na

Element content in plant

Soil solution

Many functions, for example:

• Component of chlorophyll

• Strength of cells

• Stimulating root development

Functions of nutrients

Plant root

Nutriënts on soil (clay and organic matter)