ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the potato plant and the physical factors that influence its growth and yield. It focuses on the potato plant draws heavily on Beukema and van der Zaag and Thornton and Sieczka. The section on the physical environment is based on Beukema and van der Zaag. The potato crop can be reproduced sexually by planting tiny true seeds, which form in the small, tomato-like fruits. This type of vegetative reproduction is one of the distinguishing features of the potato crop. Grouping potatoes with other crops can be very misleading, not only because the plants are botanically distinct but also because the patterns and trends in potato production and use often differ sharply from those for other root crops. Three groups of environmental conditions are of paramount importance: weather and climate; soils, fertilization, and relief; and pests and diseases. The potato crop develops best on deep, friable soils that have good water retention.
