Trial harvesting results from Fiwap, Carah, PCA and Inagro show that in Wallonia the yield per hectare of potato plots with Innovator is currently well below the 5-year average. Compared to the 2 even drier previous years, the harvest seems to be a bit higher.
In week 34, Fiwap, Carah, PCA and Inagro carried out trial harvesting on 14 potato plots with Bintje throughout Belgium and 8 plots with the Innovator variety in Wallonia.
Innovator
The test harvesting results of the 8 Innovator plots show a below average yield of 34 tons per hectare (in 35 millimeters upwards), with a variation from 22 to 46 tons per hectare. This means that the yield is currently 3 tonnes lower than the 5-year average. Compared to the 2019 and 2018 seasons, increases of 2 tons and 4 tons per hectare respectively are visible. The average planting date for Innovator is April 22.
The number of tubers per plant does not exceed 6,4 tubers. As a result, 89% falls 50 mm upwards in the size sorting. The average aging of the foliage is estimated at just under 70%, which means that the growth potential is limited. As a result, the multi-year average of the sampled plots in Wallonia will not be achieved.
bintje
With the now only 'small' Bintje variety, the average hectare yield (35 millimeters upwards) is 36 tons per hectare, although the yield shows a wide range: from 21 tons to 46 tons per hectare. The yield of 46 tons per hectare was achieved on an irrigated plot. The average yield is 1 tonne lower than the 5-year average and 1 tonne per hectare higher than last season. The average planting date is April 16.