Improving The Sustainability of Growing Seed Potatoes on Kangaroo Island - 2005-2006

Background

The growing of seed potatoes on Kangaroo Island is a relatively new industry that has provided diversification production options in intensive horticulture.  Seed potatoes require comparatively smaller areas compared to commercial production of consumed tuber product.  The development of crop management strategies that reflect the soil, rotations, climate and skills available has been a key success factor for this industry on Kangaroo Island.

Objectives

  • To demonstrate to the greater Natural Resource Management community that the potato industry is actively supporting the desire of all to evaluate and demonstrate new opportunities for sustainable production.
  • Evaluate and monitor seed and soil treatments for the management of soil borne diseases that occur when seed potatoes are grown in soils with high organic carbon in an intensive horticultural production system.
  • Intensive horticultural production is practised on non-wetting soils.  There is a need to optimise water and nutritional management and minimise off site impacts.  New technologies are required to achieve uniform soil and water management.
  • Intensive horticultural production requires maximum plant growth in a short period of time, relative to broad-acre agriculture.  Soil conditioning treatments and management is required that reflect the specific soils on Kangaroo Island.

Key Achievementskiseedpotatoproject

Profitable and sustainable seed potato yields are achieved by optimising all elements of the crop production and management system.  All varieties have an optimum planting density that reflects seed tuber size and actual distance between seed tubers at planting.

The optimal planting density for Desiree Generation 2 was 50-60mm tubers at 6.5 inches while the Coliban, Generation 2 produced the best result with Cut Seed and Whole Seed planted at 3.25 inches.

Fungicide soil treatments produced the best results when applied to the soil surface.

Project Leader - Robert Peake