POTATO
Potato is one of the widely used food crops in India & the world. The potato crop is grown in sub-tropical conditions in India. It has been said that potatoes is being cultivated in India for more than 300 years. Due to its vegetable purposes, it is one of the most popular crops produced in India. It is a very rich source of energy in the human body at a very low cost, they are a rich source of Vitamin C & B1 and many minerals.
The potato crop can be grown in any type of soil except that consists of alkaline & saline. Soil should be loose in nature, rich in organic & should have a good drainage capacity. The pH value of the soil should be in the range of 5.2 – 6.4 for the efficient growth of the crop.
Potato crops grow under a diverse range of climatic conditions. The crop mainly grows well in the condition which is moderately cool during the growing season. The temperature range during the time of growth should be between 20°C - 24°C. The crop is mainly grown as a winter crop in the tropical & sub-tropical regions and as a summer crop in hilly regions. In states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh the Kharif crop is sown in the month of late June & the rabi crop is sown in the month of mid-October & November.