At what stages of the production cycle can flame heat treatment be used in potato cultivation?
Spring – Pre-emergence of the product
If necessary, action is taken to remove weeds just before the plant emerges.
During the plant’s growth phase
We intervene to carry out weeding operations on the row. This treatment also reduces the presence of insects on the plant.
Summer – Harvesting
Treatment is carried out at the end of the plant cycle or before harvesting to:
– Dry the leaves of the plant and allow the potatoes to peel in order to eliminate or significantly reduce damage caused by mechanical harvesting. The potato peeling process takes 5-6 days regardless of weather conditions.
– reduce the presence of insects, particularly moths and Colorado beetles Moths At this stage, if present, it is found on the vegetative part of the plant and, due to its desiccation, it moves inside the tuber. Flame heat treatment immediately kills the insect, preventing this transfer, which causes considerable damage during the potato storage phase.
Both the larva and adult stages of the Colorado potato beetle are killed by the treatment, preventing their subsequent proliferation in the field.
FLAME HEAT TREATMENT IS A ZERO-RESIDUE PHYSICAL METHOD
If you would like to learn more, download the PDF file, where you will find all the information on the stages and benefits of heat treatment on potato cultivation.
DRYING OF POTATO LEAVES
