The Extension and Territorial Development Unit of the National Agricultural Technology Institute (INTA) of La Pampa achieved improving yields in the cultivation of sweet potatoes of the arapey variety in the last harvest, as they adapted well to the climatic and soil conditions of General Acha.
The INTA has an area here where they conduct trials with different cultures. In turn, they record data that is used in statistics about the behaviour of certain species, including their advantages or disadvantages.
Periodically, either annually or seasonally, the INTA conducts trials with different crops of leafy vegetables, fruits, bulbs and fruit trees.
Sweet potato
Hector Gonzalez, a technician from the INTA, spoke about the trials with sweet potato, of which there are well-adapted varieties. He said that, this year, they had only worked with the arapey variety in their trial area and in another sector to test its commercial scope.
In the latter case, the production process of the sweet potatoes was carried out simultaneously with the companies, so the harvest cycle took 120 days. The seedlings were planted on November 12, 2014 and harvested on April 3, after the cultivation period came to an end.
Production per square meter amounted to 12 kilos, with three plants per space, and eight sweet potatoes per plant.
"We've had potatoes that weight up to two kilos, but they're not good commercially because there is no direct consumer demand. Ideally, the plants should yield 16, four centimetres potatoes, said the professional.
Practices
Gonzalez also said that the smaller-scale crops were created for home consumption. The specimens were kept on the ground until June, the maximum date for the harvest of the arapey variety.
The biggest disadvantages of this crop were the attacks of the Moor bug on the leaf of the plant and on the potatoes by the tucu tucu insect.
He added that the crops needed organic matter and 20 centimetre-deep sandy or spongy soils. Compact soil mostly limited the length of the sweet potatoes.
The INTA is also carrying out small-scale trials with four varieties of garlic from INTA Anguil; all of which have had a good adaptation, so they have resumed said trial as before, with only one crop per year.
Source: laarena.com.ar