For potato growers, seed is one of their most important and expensive inputs. It is vital that seed tubers are treated with care; they could be the difference between an outstanding or poor crop. Elders Mount Gambier agronomist Jack Hanna shares his top tips for best practices when storing seed potatoes.
Correct storage of seed potatoes is essential for a more successful crop in the following growing season. Potatoes must be placed into cold storage approximately 2 to 3 weeks post-harvest, allowing time for any bruising or other imperfections to heal.
Once in the cool room, the temperature must be kept as close to 3 degrees as possible. It is also essential to ensure that humidity and carbon dioxide levels are closely monitored. Humidity should be ideally upwards of 95 per cent, whilst carbon dioxide levels below 1500ppm are most optimal for storage.
A temperature of 3 degrees is essential to minimise premature sprouting and keep seed dormant until required for the following growing season, which keeps seed vigour optimal. Temperatures of below 2 degrees may incur cell damage, whilst temperatures above 5 degrees will not keep the tubers dormant for long enough.
Humidity of ideally 95 per cent is important as this reduces seed shrinkage and dehydration of the potato due to moisture losses. This also helps to maintain seed vigour when planted in the following growing season.
Carbon dioxide levels of ideally 1500ppm are necessary as this reduces oxygen starvation in the tuber. Oxygen starvation can result in lowered seed emergence and overall vigour. Carbon dioxide levels above 4000ppm will prevent the tubers from healing imperfections and therefore reduce seed in the following growing season.
The chosen cool room must be appropriately ventilated and have adequate airflow throughout. Ventilation is important for flushing out heightened carbon dioxide levels and allowing fresh air into the rooms. Cool room managers must ensure that airflow is consistent throughout, therefore ensuring that temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels stay steady at all times.
If utilising all of these best management practices mentioned above, the potato seed for the following season should be in its most optimal condition, therefore enhancing your chances of growing a highly successful crop by meeting your yield and quality targets.
Below are some examples of seed which have (on the left) and have not been stored correctly (on the right), to demonstrate the stark difference.
Crate of healthy seed potatoes as a result of being correctly stored.
Seed potatoes which have not been stored correctly, resulting in them sprouting.
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