Potato (Solanumtuberosum L.) is a dicot plant belonging to family Solanaceae.Potato is one of the most important crops of the world, ranking next only to rice, wheat and maize. Potato assumes greater significance for its ability to provide food security to millions of people across the globe, as it provides more dry-matter content, proteins and calories from per unit area of land and time. Potato is a wholesome food which is rich in carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and vitamins. It is a rich source of potassium and therefore, very good for patients suffering from heart ailments.

India produces around 50 million tons of potato annually from average area of 21 lakh hectare with average yield of 22-24 tons/Ha (Source: NHRDF 2017-18- APY). India ranks 3rd in area and 2nd in production in the world. About 365.36 million tons of potato are produced in the world over an area of about 19.28 million hectare. China, Russian Federation, India, USA, Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Netherlands, France, UK, Turkey, Iran are the major potato growing countries in the world.

Potato is mainly winter crop and rabi season accounts of approximately 85-90% of total production in India. Out of total rabi production harvested during March-April, 60-70% goes into cold store. This is consumed rest of the year till fresh crop starts from Punjab during November. Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab and Gujarat are the major producing states in India. Annual domestic table consumption varies between 32-35 million tons, depending upon prices and availability. The domestic consumption is based on NSSO- per capita consumption of 1.85 kg/month and current population of 1.34 billion. Post-harvest losses, varies between 8-10%.

(Source: NHRDF)

(Source: NHRDF)

Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Shimla, has released a number of improved varieties of potato which differ in their tuber characters. They have been recommended accordingly for growing in particular states. The distinguished characters and their adaptability region of all commercially grown potato varieties are given below:

(Source: NHRDF)

The time of harvesting is very important in potato. The development of tubers continues till the vines die. Potatoes are harvested when desirable size is obtained with fully ripe vines. Immature potatoes shrink severely, bruises easily and do not keep well. Care should be taken to save the tubers from injury while harvesting. If harvesting is delayed, it is best to leave the soil dry and irrigate the field lightly at the time of harvesting.
It is never advisable to harvest tubers in wetland. The late-sown crop in plains should be harvested latest by April-end to avoid high temperature and charcoal rot infection in tubers. After harvesting, tubers should be surface dried and kept in shade in heaps for 10-15 days. All rotted and damaged tubers should be periodically removed.

(Source: NHRDF)

Grading is essential to get uniformity of size in order to fetch good prices in market and to achieve uniform emergence of crop. In India, grade specification for table potato has been modified by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection. The potato is usually packed in jute/gunny bags of 80 kg.

(Source: NHRDF)

The purpose of potato storage is to maintain tuber quality and provide a uniform flow of tubers to fresh markets and processing plants throughout the year. Good store should prevent excessive dehydration, decay and sprouting. It should also prevent high sugar concentrations which result in dark coloured fried products. Potato storage should have adequate insulation, outside water-proofing, inside vapour-proofing, ventilation, air distribution, adequate humidification and properly designed control for precisely maintaining the storage atmosphere. Potato is generally stored in cold storage from April to October at 4-50C and 90-95% relative humidity. State wise storage capacity of potatoes and actual storage are tabulated below:

Source :* State Horticulture Department,Agriwatch Research 

Potato can be processed into various products like chips, morrabba, halwa, barfi, flakes, flour etc. The processing industry could help in stabilizing the price by utilizing the surpluses and thus adding value to primary products. It is estimated that around 1% to 1.5% of total production goes into processing industry.

(Source: NHRDF)

Potato is basically a temperate crop. It is largely grown in regions where mean temperature does not exceed 180C. In India , it is generally grown when maximum day temperature is below 350C and night temperature not more than 200C. Optimum temperature for potato growth ranges from 15 to 250C. Temperature below 210C favours tuberization. Long photo period favours haulm growth but delays tuberization and maturity. Whereas short photoperiod reduces haulm growth but tuber initiation is early and maturity period is reduced. Therefore, time of planting in potato assumes greater significance. Potato is grown in all types of soils, but light, well-drained sandy loam soils are best-suited. In India, maximum area under potato is in alluvial soils, followed by hill, black and red soils. Potato prefers soils in acidic neutral range (pH 5.5 - 6.0).

(Source: NHRDF)

Potato field must be properly labeled with proper surface drainage. Six or seven ploughing and planking are required to make the soil loose, friable and porous.

(Source: NHRDF)

Certified seeds should be preferred, small seed potatoes sprouts late and in smaller numbers, while large seed tubers sprout earlier. Tubers should be true-to-type. Medium-sized, 40-50 g in weight, 40-45 mm in diameter and disease-free tubers should be preferred.

The seed rate varies according to sowing time. In general, 15-20 q large whole tubers, 10-15 q medium-sized tubers, 8-10 q small size tubers and 6-8 q cut tubers are required for 1 ha area.

(Source: NHRDF)

It is sown either on ridges or in flat beds. Sowing on ridges gives higher yield. In Maharastra, Karnataka and some parts of Uttar Pradesh flat bed sowing is also done. Spacing between each row is kept 15-22 cm while the spacing for ridges may vary from 45-60 to 75 cm row-to-row and 15-22 cm from plant-to-plant according to variety and time of sowing.

(Source: NHRDF)

Potato being a shallow-rooted crop, requires high nutrients. It needs 120-150 kg N, 45 kg P205 and 100 kg K2O /Ha. The response to NPK depends not only upon the fertility status of soils but also on variety, cropping system and source of nutrients.

(Source: NHRDF)

Weedicides like linuron or simazine (0.5 kg/ha) applied as pre-emergence spray are effective. Lasso @ 2 litres/ha can also be used.

(Source: NHRDF)

Late blight (Phytopthorainfestans) and early blight (Alternariasolani)
These are most common field disease of potato. To control these diseases Blitox (0.2-0.3%) or Dithane Z-78 (0.2%) or Ridomil MZ @ 0.2%, Matco (Metalaxye + Mancozeb) @ 0.2% or Moxlinate (Cymoxanil + Mancozeb) @ 0.2% are effective. Use of resistant varieties, removal of infected foliage, restricted irrigation, proper sanitation is other means to combat these diseases

Charcol rot (Macrophominaphaseoli)
It is a serious storage rot. The disease, being both seed- and soil-borne, is difficult to be eliminated. Selection of disease-free tubers, long crop rotation and resistant varieties may be used.

Black scurf (Rhizoctoniasolani)
It is also a major disease causing damage in field and storage. Soil treatment with PCNB @ 70 kg/ha may minimize the disease. Potato tubers should be treated with boric acid @ 3% or penicuran @ 0.15% solution for black scurf control.
Apart from fungal pathogens, bacteria and viruses also affect potato crop. Streptocycline@ 200 ppm for bacterial disease control and Metasystoks @ 0.2% or Dlinethoale @ 0.2% spray for the control of insect vectors of virol disease. Among insect pests, aphids, cut worms and beetles are of economic importance. Commonly used systemic and contact insecticides are recommended to control these insect pests.

(Source: NHRDF)