Inside Potatoes
Results of trial harvesting vary widely
The trial harvests that have been published in recent days show a mixed picture. The results of the various organizations range from below to above average returns. What is confirmed again is that the yields at plot level differ widely.
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Choose the subscription that suits youThe United Growers Arable Farming (VTA) reports today (Tuesday, August 31) that the average yields among its members across all varieties are 40 tons per hectare. Last year, during the trial harvest in mid-August, this was just under 47 tons per hectare. Compared to the 5-year average, the yield is 7,5% behind.
The percentage 50 on is 57%. Last year that was 65% and the 5-year average is 60%. The average tuber number is 4,4% below the 5-year average. The difference in yield between the different plots and varieties is very large, as has been shown many times this season. In the VTA's trial harvest, yields range from 21 to 59,7 tons per hectare.
Above average yield in Belgium
The Belgian Test Center for Potato Cultivation (PCA) published the test harvests of Fontane and Challenger yesterday. The average yields are 45 and 47 tons per hectare respectively when sampling on August 23 and 24. After a slow start, yields for both varieties are now well above the multi-year average.
The potatoes have grown less rapidly in recent weeks compared to the period at the end of July and beginning of August. However, with an average of 630 kilos per hectare per day for Challenger and 540 kilos per hectare per day for Fontane, the potatoes continued to grow well.
Average grading, concerns about quality
The yield spread remains wide and at Fontane ranges from 25 to 64 tons per hectare. Of the 17 Challenger plots sampled, 4 plots remain below 40 tons per hectare in terms of yield, while in more than half the yield is already above 50 tons per hectare. 73% of the Challenger and 74% of the Fontane are in size 50. That is around the multi-year average. The percentage of waste at Challenger is much lower than at Fontane. On average, 9% is waste in the Fontane. A large part is due to growth cracks or deformed potatoes. At least 1 hollow potato was found on two-thirds of the Fontane plots, with a maximum of 8 tubers per plot.
The results of the Aviko trial harvesting are between those of the VTA and PCA. The average yield now exceeds 50 tons per hectare, which is in line with the 5-year average. The 50 percent percentage is high compared to recent years. The relatively low number of tubers per plant may play a role in this. The underwater weight has increased further and now exceeds 380 grams.
