Many farmers mistakenly think that potatoes can only be grown successfully in light soils. In fact, potatoes can thrive in a variety of soil types.
That said, heavy soils with a high clay content may not be suitable for potatoes, depending on the type of clay. If it is montmorrilite, it becomes crumbly as it expands and contracts. I once worked on a farm with this soil; if a sand road on the farm was not used for a long time, the surface became loose and difficult to drive on.
I was able to grow potatoes in this soil. However, the moisture content of the soil had to be just right for preparation, planting and lifting, which meant there were limited windows of opportunity for these tasks. The soil also had to be washed off the potatoes with care.
This story is from the February 25, 2022 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
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This story is from the February 25, 2022 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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