Regrowth boosts yield on clay soil

Most of the potatoes are in the shed and almost all the innovators of the Crop Tour participants are from the country. Just before the harvest, a second trial lifting was carried out to measure the final yield and determine the underwater weight. A few crops on clay soil show a significant boost in kilos.

Most growers started the harvest in September. After sufficient rainfall, harvesting could take place under good conditions. In a month's time - except for a few - all crop tour plots were cleared. A trial harvesting was done in advance, in which again twice three meters of potato ridge were dug up and weighed. The figures show that usually up to ten tons of regrowth has taken place, compared to the yield measurement of week 31. Two peaks were measured of more than 25 and 50 tons per hectare.

_{*Yield in tons of kilograms per hectare. 15% of the proceeds were deducted because of spraying tracks, headlands, lesser spots, etc.}

Huge growth spurt in Fijnaart
What is striking is that Kees Vrolijk's plot has gone from 30,6 tons to 83,3 tons per hectare. This does not come as a complete surprise to the grower. During the first trial harvest, Vrolijk was not concerned about his low yield at that time. Experience shows that his crops have a growth spurt later in the season. The potatoes are 'only' watered twice. That is also nothing special. The crop remained green for a long time, which meant that it was able to catch up with a lot of growth when precipitation fell in August and September. Herman Schlepers' plot in Dronten also shows significant regrowth at 25,5 tons.

Averaged over all nine plots, the net yield is 58,0 tonnes per hectare, which is 11,4 tonnes higher than in week 31. The plots on the sandy and loamy soils had the least additional growth, together with those of Van Liere. and Goense. Van Liere and Goense both planted early, so that the crops were already on their way back during the first trial harvest. The rain that fell after week 31 had little effect on these Innovators.

Compared to last year, the yields on three plots are better and on three less. At the bottom of the line, the level is 4,3 tons higher compared to 2021. If we disregard the extremely high yield of Vrolijk, this difference is only 1,1 tons. The difference with 2019 and 2020 is significantly greater than the yield from 2021.

The underwater weight is broadly unchanged from the sample in week 31. Some growers have increased in value and others decreased. With almost every grower, the underwater weight is between 360 and 400, which is desirable for French fries. Grower Janssen's crop stands out because of its high underwater weight.

Robin Winter

Intern at the Boerenbusiness Dutch Crop tour

r.dewinter@boerenbusiness. Nl

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