Pest and pathogen populations have changed since the first edition of Potato Health Management was printed and a significant amount of new research knowledge has been gained. This new edition addresses those changes and contains up-to-date information recently acquired to help you economically manage potato health.
This highly-anticipated manual tackles the hundreds of problems that affect this important crop including weeds, insects, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, phytoplasmas, and viruses. The new edition is 30% larger than the first and contains more color photographs, which are now interspersed throughout the text. It includes timely new chapters on economics, home gardening, and organic production.
More than 40 experts from the fields of soil science, weed science, nematology, plant pathology, and entomology explain how to manage potato health from seed to storage by a holistic approach. Potato Health Management provides the most current information on potato production practices, with an emphasis on pest and disease management. The knowledge base provided in this text can be integrated into a comprehensive management scheme in the context of today's agriculture. Using Potato Health Management's integrated strategy for potato health management will help you produce a quality product at a reasonable profit, using an environmentally friendly approach.
Potato Health Management, Second Edition is easy to read and understand on two levels. Call-outs of important concepts give quick information to supplement the more-in-depth level of peer-reviewed information. Nearly every chapter includes a boxed briefing on an important concept, helpful test, diagnostic tip, or checklist, adding to your practical understanding of potato health management strategies. The information in each of Potato Health Management's 23 chapters is essential to a successful, holistically managed potato health management program.
Cutting edge discussions and details on soil health, managing tubers during harvest and in storage, organic potato production, pesticide resistance management, pesticide application, management of diseases, insects and weeds affecting potato will enlighten commercial potato growers, field consultants and farm advisors, extension specialists, agriculture students, researchers and agribusiness professionals in all aspects of the potato industry. The 42 contributing experts are from the leading potato research facilities in the United States and Canada, but the information in the handbook will provide valuable practical assistance to potato professionals outside of North America as well.
Chapter 1
Potato Health Management: A Holistic Approach
What Is Potato Health?
Management of Potato Health
Principles of Holistic Potato Health Management
Building a Holistic Health Management Plan
Chapter 2
Checklist for a Holistic Potato Health Management Plan
Management in Years Prior to Growing Potatoes
Management Prior to Planting
Management During the Growing Season
Management During Harvest
Management During Storage
Chapter 3
Soil Health: Managing the Soil Microflora to Enhance Potato Health
How Can Soils Be Managed to Enhance Pathogen Suppression and Potato Yields?
Outlook for Management of Soil Microbial Communities
Key Principles
Chapter 4
Economics of Potato Plant Health
Total Yield Curve
Some Production Economics Basics
Summary
Chapter 5
Selecting and Preparing the Planting Site
Field Selection
Crop Rotation
Field Preparation
Chapter 6
Quality Seed: Seed Improvement, Cultivar and Seed Lot Selection, and Certification
Cultivar Selection Based on Market Requirements
Disease-Resistant Cultivars
Cultural Requirements and Seed Condition
History of Seed Potato Certification
Production of High-Quality Seed: Requirements of a Seed Farm
Limited-Generation Programs
Certification System
Chapter 7
Seed Tuber Health Before and During Planting
Planning and Preparation Before Seed Delivery
Accepting Delivery and Handling Seed
Managing the Seed-Cutting Operation
Planting the Crop
Summary
Chapter 8
Managing Potato Fertility
Integrated Nutrient Management Systems
Determining Fertilizer Requirements
Fertilizer Application Strategies
Nitrogen Management
Phosphorus Management
Potassium Management
Sulfur, Calcium, and Magnesium Management
Micronutrient Management
Chapter 9
Potato Health from Sprouting to Harvest
Fertility and Water Management
Growth Stage I: Sprout Development
Growth Stage II: Vegetative Growth
Growth Stage III: Tuber Initiation
Growth Stage IV: Tuber Bulking
Growth Stage V: Tuber Maturation
Chapter 10
Maintaining Tuber Health During Harvest, Storage, and Post-Storage Handling
Tuber Quality
Managing the Harvest Operation
Maintaining Tuber Health Through the Storage Cycle
Maintaining Tuber Health During Post-Storage Handling
Chapter 11
Organic Potato Production
Field Selection and Crop Rotation
Soil and Nutrient Management
Managing Weeds
Managing Insects and Rodents
Managing Diseases
Managing the Crop During Harvest and Storage
Checklist for Organic Potato Production
Chapter 12
Managing Potatoes in the Home Garden
Site Preparation and Nutrients
Planting and Culture
Managing Weeds
Managing Insect Pests and Diseases
Harvest and Storage
Chapter 13
Applying Pesticides
Application Methods
What Application Method Should Be Used?
Chapter 14
Managing Pesticide Resistance
Recognizing Resistance
Strategies for Proactive Management of Pesticide Resistance
Factors Affecting the Development of Pesticide Resistance
What to Do in Cases of Confirmed Resistance
Chapter 15
Managing Insect and Mite Pests
Overview of the Most Significant Pests
Management Prior to Planting
Management During Planting
Management During Growth Stages I to III: Sprouting to Tuber Initiation
Management During Growth Stages IV and V: Tuber Bulking and Maturation
Management During Harvest and Storage
Management in Years Prior to Planting
Chapter 16
Managing Aphids and Leafhoppers
Aphids
Leafhoppers
Management Strategies
Summary
Chapter 17
Managing Diseases Caused by Viruses, Viroids, and Phytoplasmas
Diseases Caused by Viruses
Diseases Caused by Phytoplasmas
Management Strategies
Chapter 18
Managing Soft Rot and Ring Rot
The Soft Rots
Bacterial Ring Rot
Brown Rot
Management Strategies
Chapter 19
Managing Diseases Caused by Seedborne and Soilborne Fungi and Fungus-Like Pathogens
Diseases and Pathogen Biology
Management of Seedborne and Soilborne Pathogens
Summary
Chapter 20
Managing Diseases Caused by Nematodes
Root-Lesion Nematodes
Root-Knot Nematodes
Potato Rot Nematode and Potato Cyst Nematodes
Sting Nematodes and Stubby-Root Nematodes
Diagnosing Nematode Problems
Management Strategies
Chapter 21
Managing Foliar Diseases: Early Blight, Late Blight, and White Mold
Early Blight
Late Blight
White Mold
Management Strategies
Chapter 22
Managing Weeds
Weed Types
Weed Identification and General Management Strategies
Integrated Weed Management
Summary
Chapter 23
Managing Physiological Disorders
Tuber Physiological Disorders
Plant Physiological Disorders
Management Strategies
Glossary
Index
Sources of Additional Information
"This book is very well illustrated with drawings, schemes and especially with colour photographs. It contains an impressive amount of detailed information and suggestions for the management of potato health throughout all states of potato production for different purposes [...] . particularly recommended for all those involved in practical aspects of potato production, even outside this area."
– Dr. Nicola Greco, Nematologia Mediterranea
" [...] everything you want to know about growing potatoes is in this book [...] should be available in all universities, colleges, schools, farms and even homes and any research institute where research in any aspect of plant pathology is being carried out, or where horticulture or plant pathology is taught."
– Fungal Diversity