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Calculating requirements of potato seed | AG0319 |
Tony Kellock, Toolangi
April 1995 |  |
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Most established potato growers have good estimates of seed requirements for intended plantings. However, for the benefit of those growers just entering the industry or established growers who may be considering altering either their row spacing or set spacing, the following table may be useful. It can be used to estimate the amount of seed required to plant one hectare of crop at different row and seedpiece spacings using different average seedpiece masses.
To obtain an average mass of seedpiece, it is necessary to weigh 100 sets that have been selected at random. The gross mass divided by 100 gives a fairly accurate average seedpiece mass. The table applies to each hectare actually planted. Allowance for area of headlands, irrigation bays, etc., should be deducted from the gross area of a paddock before working out seed requirements. Some varieties "cut" better than others, thus producing lighter seedpieces. The purpose of a crop, whether it be intended for table or seed use, determines the "set" spacing and/or row spacing.
Where a raised bed is used it is the practice to have less space between rows across the top of the bed with a wider spacing between rows across the furrow. In this case to use the table it is necessary to halve the distance from the centre of one furrow to the centre of the next furrow; this measurement being the average spacing between rows for the planted area. For example, if from furrow-centre to furrow-centre measures 1600 mm, the average row spacing would be 800 mm.
Table 1. Tonnes of potato seed required per hectare at different spacings and seedpiece masses
Distance
Between
Rows
mm | Distance between
sets
mm | Metres of row
per hectare | No. of sets
per hectare | Average mass of seedpiece (set) |
|
|
40 grams | 45 grams | 50 grams | 55 grams | 60 grams | 65 grams | 70 grams |
Sets per tonne | Tonnes per ha | Sets per tonne | Tonnes per ha | Sets per tonne | Tonnes per ha | Sets per tonne | Tonnes per ha | Sets per tonne | Tonnes per ha | Sets per tonne | Tonnes per ha | Sets per tonne | Tonnes per ha |
750
750
750
750
750
750 | 175
200
225
250
275
300 | 13,330
13,330
13,330
13,330
13,330
13,330 | 76,170
66,650
59,240
53,200
48,470
44,430 | 25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000 | 3.0
2.6
2.3
2.1
1.9
1.7 | 22,500
22,500
22,500
22,500
22,500
22,500 | 3.4
2.9
2.6
2.3
2.1
1.9 | 20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000 | 3.8
3.3
2.9
2.6
2.4
2.2 | 18,333
18,333
18,333
18,333
18,333
18,333 | 4.1
3.6
3.2
2.9
2.6
2.4 | 16,666
16,666
16,666
16,666
16,666
16,666 | 4.5
4.0
3.5
3.2
2.9
2.6 | 15,475
15,475
15,475
15,475
15,475
15,475 | 4.9
4.3
3.8
3.4
3.1
2.8 | 14,285
14,285
14,285
14,285
14,285
14,285 | 5.3
4.6
4.1
3.7
3.3
3.1 |
800
800
800
800
800
800 | 175
200
225
250
275
300 | 12,500
12,500
12,500
12,500
12,500
12,500 | 71,420
62,500
55,550
50,000
45,450
41,660 | 25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000 | 2.8
2.5
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.6 | 22,500
22,500
22,500
22,500
22,500
22,500 | 3.1
2.8
2.4
2.2
2.0
1.8 | 20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000 | 3.5
3.1
2.7
2.5
2.2
2.0 | 18,333
18,333
18,333
18,333
18,333
18,333 | 3.8
3.4
3.0
2.7
2.4
2.2 | 16,666
16,666
16,666
16,666
16,666
16,666 | 4.2
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.5 | 15,475
15,475
15,475
15,475
15,475
15,475 | 4.6
4.0
3.5
3.2
2.9
2.7 | 14,285
14,285
14,285
14,285
14,285
14,285 | 5.0
4.3
3.8
3.5
3.1
2.9 |
850
850
850
850
850
850 | 175
200
225
250
275
300 | 11,760
11,760
11,760
11,760
11,760
11,760 | 67,200
58,800
52,260
47,040
42,760
39,200 | 25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000 | 2.6
2.3
2.0
1.8
1.7
1.5 | 22,500
22,500
22,500
22,500
22,500
22,500 | 2.9
2.6
2.3
2.0
1.9
1.7 | 20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000 | 3.3
2.9
2.6
2.3
2.1
1.9 | 18,333
18,333
18,333
18,333
18,333
18,333 | 3.6
3.2
2.8
2.5
2.3
2.1 | 16,666
16,666
16,666
16,666
16,666
16,666 | 4.0
3.5
3.1
2.8
2.5
2.3 | 15,475
15,475
15,475
15,475
15,475
15,475 | 4.3
3.8
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.5 | 14,285
14,285
14,285
14,285
14,285
14,285 | 4.7
4.1
3.6
3.3
3.0
2.7 |
900
900
900
900
900
900 | 175
200
225
250
275
300 | 11,110
11,110
11,110
11,110
11,110
11,110 | 63,480
55,550
49,370
44,440
40,400
37,030 | 25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000
25,000 | 2.5
2.2
1.9
1.7
1.6
1.4 | 22,500
22,500
22,500
22,500
22,500
22,500 | 2.8
2.4
2.2
1.9
1.8
1.6 | 20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000 | 3.1
2.7
2.4
2.2
2.0
1.8 | 18,333
18,333
18,333
18,333
18,333
18,333 | 3.4
3.0
2.6
2.4
2.2
2.0 | 16,666
16,666
16,666
16,666
16,666
16,666 | 3.8
3.3
2.9
2.6
2.4
2.2 | 15,475
15,475
15,475
15,475
15,475
15,475 | 4.1
3.5
3.1
2.8
2.6
2.4 | 14,285
14,285
14,285
14,285
14,285
14,285 | 4.4
3.8
3.4
3.1
2.8
2.5 |
Note: 25 mm = 1 inch (approx.) 300 mm = 1 ft (approx.)
The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
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