MODULE 1: Introduction to the potato crop

C I P C A M E R O O N
Module 1 Outline

1.1. Importance of the potato crop

1.2. Understanding the crop cycle

1.1. Importance of the potato crop

Cont’d…
 Importance of the potato

• Potatoes originated in the highlands of South America.

• Third most consumed food crop in the world, after wheat

and rice.

• Provides more calories per unit area and unit of time than
crops grown in cool climates.

• Has the highest concentration of protein (more than 2% of

fresh matter) among roots or tubers.

• A medium-sized potato may fulfil half the daily vitamin C

requirement in an adult.

Cont’d…
 Nutritious crop and an income booster
• High in potassium, good for blood pressure, bones and
muscles.

• Micronutrient-rich (iron and zinc) and improves nutrition,

especially in infants and pregnant and lactating women.

• An income-boosting cash crop that enhances the lives of

smallholder farmers through better:
❖houses,
❖education for children and
❖healthcare.
1.2. Understanding the crop cycle

Cont’d…
 Planting to emergence
Stage 1 (2-4 weeks):

• Plant strong and well sprouted tubers with multiple

(minimum of 3) sprouts.

• What influences plant emergence:

❖soil type and moisture,
❖seed physiological age,
❖planting depth, and
❖soil temperature.

• This phase is very critical for better yields.

 Emergence to tuber initiation
Stage 2 (2-4 weeks):

• Crop duration depends on the variety used.

• Fertilization should have been completed by now.

• Plant protection measures are critical against diseases

like late blight at this stage rather than later.
 Tuber initiation to end of leaf growth

Stage 3

• The flowering stage begins as leaf growth ends.

• All the leaves are fully grown.
• Ensure that plants have maximum soil around the stems
and the leaves are protected from pests and diseases.
 Tuber bulking to plant death
Stage 4

• This is the stage when leaves turn yellow and die.

• Crop growth stops and tubers grow in size.

• All the foliage must die for maximum yields.

• Control pests and diseases as needed, but chemical

application must stop 2– 3 weeks before harvest.
 CIP is a research-for-development organization with a focus on potato,
sweetpotato and Andean roots and tubers. It delivers innovative science-
based solutions to enhance access to affordable nutritious food, foster
inclusive sustainable business and employment growth, and drive the
climate resilience of root and tuber agri-food systems. Headquartered in
Lima, Peru, CIP has a research presence in more than 20 countries in
Africa, Asia and Latin America.
www.cipotato.org

CIP is a CGIAR research center

CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science
is carried out by 15 research centers in close collaboration with hundreds of
partners across the globe.
www.cgiar.org

CIP thanks all donors and organizations which globally support its work through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund. https://www.cgiar.org/funders/

© 2021. International Potato Center. All rights reserved.

This work by the International Potato Center is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Permissions beyond the scope of this lice nse may be available at: http://www.cipotato.org/contact/