This article appears in the April 2017 issue of Potato Grower.
Potato growers are constantly looking for new and effective ways to maximize production and increase crop set, quality and yield. Some of the challenges growers face include establishing good tuber size and uniformity. Tuber set can be particularly challenging, especially for some newer potato varieties. As potato buyers and consumers demand more uniform and consistent tuber size, growers are looking for new methods to improve crop quality and increase crop value.
Different potato varieties have different set and size requirements. The key to producing more uniform tubers is to control the number of stems among plants to achieve the desired characteristics. Organic Triggrr from Westbridge Agricultural Products contains auxiliary soil and plant substances that help to maintain a balance between root to shoot growth, increase photosynthesis, and improve overall plant development. Triggrr works synergistically with Westbridge’s Organic BioLink nutritional program to increase plant vigor, which can lead to strengthened root development, improved tuber set, size and uniformity. Applied at key times during the growing cycle, the program helps to improve water and nutrient uptake, enhance starter and pre-plant fertilizer efficiency, and improve specific gravity.
Organic Triggrr can be applied as a seed treatment or at planting to induce earlier emergence and increase stand. A seed treatment helps increase eye vigor and early shoot vigor, thereby increasing the number of shoots. If Organic Triggrr is not applied at planting, another option once the plant is established is to apply an application of 20 ounces per acre between first and second hooking to improve vigor of the second, third and fourth set.
Triggrr can also be used as a foliar application right at last irrigation to help bulk up tubers if needed. It increases specific gravity in potatoes by effectively lengthening the growing season, allowing more time for starch deposition in the tubers.
Another challenge that growers face is weed management. Weeds compete for space, nutrients and water on which crops depend, which in turn can impact cultivated crops and reduce yields. Weed control is especially challenging for organic growers who have few effective and economical options available for use on organic food crops.
Suppress Herbicide EC, also manufactured by Westbridge, is a low-foaming and easy-to-use broad-spectrum contact herbicide. It is an EPA-registered, OMRI-approved product used for post-emergent, non-selective weed control. It is not volatile and will not cause vapor damage to non-target plants. The proprietary formulation is an emulsifiable concentrate that provides organic growers with a fast and effective alternative to help meet their production goals and manage rising labor costs.
Suppress is also an excellent alternative for conventional growers to use as a rotational herbicide where weeds have become resistant to other chemical herbicides. The product has no pre-harvest interval, so it can be applied up to the day of harvest. Suppress works best on newly emerged weeds and when applied directly on the targeted weeds to avoid burning tubers. The product can be used to help clean up a field before planting potatoes, or it can be applied post-emergent with shield sprayers once the crop is up. After last irrigation, Suppress can be applied to help stress the plants, improve dry down and induce finish set in tubers.