Sustainable soil management for potatoes

This chapter discusses recent work that has assessed soil organic matter decline, soil structure degradation and erosion which are the major factors that impact the sustainable use of soils for potato production in Tasmania, Australia. Soil organic carbon (SOC) has declined by approximately 30% over the past 25 years. Soil compaction has resulted in increased cloddiness, reduced infiltration resulting in increased runoff and soil erosion, reduced trafficability and increased soil strength. Potato tuber yield at paddock scale was found to be significantly correlated with a visual assessment of structure and with penetration resistance. Crop yield decreased and prior soil loss increased with increasing slope. Potato growers in Tasmania are using fewer tillage passes than 5 or 10 years ago to prepare their soil prior to planting. Recommended best practices to prevent further degradation of soil structure and decline in organic carbon content are presented.