What is the potato sowing rate per 1 hectare in tons and how to calculate it correctly

When growing potatoes, in addition to selecting high-quality tubers and preparing the site, it is important to correctly calculate the seeding rate. To do this, take into account the mass of vegetables and determine the planting density. We will tell you what factors influence the consumption of material for sowing and how to independently calculate its quantity.

Potato seeding rate

When growing potatoes on an industrial scale, agronomic tables are used to calculate the norm. They take into account in detail the sowing distances of plants in a row, the size of row spacing, the weight of the tuber, and in some cases, the variety. Calculations are based on mathematical formulas.

Per 1 hectare in tons

The seeding rate directly depends on the size of the seed material and density landings. The row spacing is determined by the dimensions of the agricultural machinery and most often is 70 cm. The planting interval in the ridge ranges from 15 to 45 cm.

Average potato seeding rates per 1 hectare in tons at distance between plants in a row 30 cm:

• standard tuber size (50–60 g) - from 2.3 to 2.8 tons of seed material will be required;
• fine fraction (30–40 g) - from 1.9 to 2.4 tons;
• large (80–90 g) – 3.8–4.3 t.

The value varies depending on climatic conditions, soil fertility, and varietal characteristics. Calculations are made with some margin, taking into account errors in the size of potatoes and their possible rejection.

Per 1 hundred square meters in kilograms

On small farms and household plots, the seeding rate is calculated in kilograms, since it is more convenient to use “running” weight measures.

Let us give a variant of this calculation for a plot of 10 × 10 m (1 hundred square meters) in the form of a square, with a width between rows of 70 cm, a distance between tubers of 40 cm, and a weight of one - 80 g:

• number of rows - 14;
• row length - 10 m, each with 28 tubers;
• In total, it will be possible to plant 392 plants on one hundred square meters (14×28=392).

How many potatoes are needed for planting in this case: 392 × 80 (weight of one tuber) = 31360 g = 31.4 kg.

How to determine potato consumption

Calculation of seeding rates is not 100% accurate. In reality, the obtained indicators often deviate significantly both upward and downward.

What does it depend on

Potato consumption directly depends on its size. Large tubers weighing 80–90 g require a large feeding area and are planted in rows with an interval of 35–40 cm, and small ones - at 25–30 cm. The more homogeneous the fraction of the seed, the more reliable the calculations of planting consumption will be.

Reference. If there is a shortage of seed material in small farms, pre-cut large healthy tubers weighing at least 80–100 g are used. Each part should weigh 40–50 g and have at least 2 eyes.

The climatic conditions of the region also affect the consumption of seed material. In the northern regions, the Urals and Siberia, large potatoes weighing 80–100 g are used. Due to the supply of nutrients, they produce healthier seedlings and are able to withstand the vagaries of the weather. In the southern regions, a smaller fraction is planted.

Soil type and fertility play a significant role. The better the soil is fertilized, the more plants can be planted on it. However, excessive compaction of plantings will cause the tubers to grow small.

Factors affecting consumption

To correctly calculate the rate of potato consumption, it is important to take into account the following 3 factors.

Variety

Any variety is always tested by agronomists for optimal conditions growing. The seeding rate of potatoes is affected by their early maturity - it is taken into account when choosing a scheme landings.

Early-ripening varieties are planted more densely - according to a pattern of 70x25 cm (where 70 is the row spacing, and 25 cm is the distance between potatoes in a row), mid-ripening - at least 70x30 cm, late-ripening - up to 70x40 cm.

Planting density

The density of potato planting affects the future harvest and the fraction of grown tubers. This indicator is taken into account in the formula for calculating the seeding rate. It depends on the early maturity of the variety, the weight of planting material, soil fertility and climatic characteristics of the region.

The optimal density is considered to be:

• standard tubers weighing 50–80 g – up to 55–65 thousand/ha;
• small (25–50 g) - up to 65–70 thousand/ha;
• large (80–100 g) - about 40–55 thousand/ha.

In areas with good moisture and rich soils, potatoes are planted densely - according to a pattern of 70x20...25 cm, in arid zones - sparsely (70x30...35 cm).

Also, the seeding density is influenced by the region where the crop is grown:

• North and North-West of the country - from 50 to 55 thousand bushes per 1 hectare;
• The central part and the South - depending on the composition of the soil (about 45-50 thousand bushes are planted on sandy soils, up to 55-60 thousand on loam);
• Siberia and the Urals - 45–57 thousand tubers per 1 ha;
• Far East - medium-fraction potatoes are planted at a density of 45 to 50 thousand per 1 ha.

Landing method

Traditionally, seed potatoes are planted in single rows with row spacing ranging from 70 to 90 cm wide (this depends on the size of the agricultural machinery or planting “in a shovel”). This method is reflected in agronomic tables, and it is not difficult to calculate the consumption rate using them.

Planting in double rows is not as popular as traditional planting and is used on small farms. There are several such technologies: for example, sowing potatoes in ridges using the Dutch method, planting according to Mittleider.

The width of double beds when using this method is 40–45 cm, and the distance between them is 90–110 cm. Seed material is planted at intervals of 30 cm.

Instructions for doing your own calculations

Anyone can calculate the seeding rate for potatoes, even if there are no agronomic tables at hand. To do this, it is important to know the average weight of the tuber and the planting density recommended in specific conditions.

Let us recall the values ​​of the second indicator:

• 65–70 thousand/ha – for small potatoes (25–50 g);
• 55–65 thousand/ha – for tubers of the middle fraction (50–80 g);
• 40–55 thousand/ha – for large specimens (80–100 g).

The calculation rate for potatoes per 1 hectare is determined by the formula:

H = G × M,

where N is the planting rate (t/ha), G is the planting density (thousand/ha), M is the mass of the tuber (g).

Example

For clarity, let’s calculate the seeding rate for potatoes of the Bellarosa variety using the traditional method of growing in one ridge.

We will use tubers with an average weight of 90 g as seed material. The planting density at this weight is 40–55 thousand/ha. However, the variety is early ripening and requires denser planting. Therefore, we will focus on the upper limit - 55 thousand/ha.

Then the planting rate (N) = 55 (G) × 90 (M) = 4950 kg/ha = 4.95 t/ha.

Conclusion

Potato seeding rates are not universal. It depends on the growing conditions of the crop in a particular farm, the size and varietal characteristics of the tubers, and the density of planting.The consumption of vegetables on the site is determined using agronomic tables or calculated independently based on the above formula.