Which method to use?

To promote a rapid and even emergence with plenty of stems and growth of the crop, as well as to facilitate and optimize mechanical operations in the fields, planting should meet the following conditions:

* minimum damage of presprouted seed during handling; 
* straight rows and equal spacing between the rows, fairly accurate spacing in the row; 
* uniform planting depth asshallow as possible, no contact between fertilizer and seed top revent damage to sprouts and roots;
* covering of the potatoes immediately after planting to prevent damage to the seeds by heat and/or drying out of the soil around the seeds.

Manual planting
Planting by hand is labour- and time-consuming. When planting in furrows, a toolbar with ridging bodies is generally used for opening the furrows. Special attention should be paid to a correct and uniform depth control. Fertilizer can be spread manually on to the bottom of the furrow and mixed with soil. This method allows for an accurate spacing in the row and results in the least sprout damage. Covering of the seed after planting can be done by hand or mechanically by using a toolbar with ridging bodies. This must be carried out immediately after planting.

The semi-automatic planter
Semi-automatic planters achieve an acceptable capacity and can save substantially on labour compared to planting by hand. These planters are very suitable for planting seeds with weak sprouts, because damage to sprouts is very limited. This system is suitable for both seed stock propagation and the cultivation of ware potatoes. Workers sitting on the machine place the seed by hand into plantingcups mounted on a horizontal, ground-driven rotating wheel. The machine is also fitted with furrow openers and covering discs. The capacity of these machines is limited by the number of planting units and human working speed. One person can place between 80 and 120 seed potatoes in plantingcups a minute. The more planting units, the higher the output, but every unit needs an operator.

The automatic planter
The advantage of the automatic planter is that it minimizes labour, as the only labour needed is the tractor driver. These planters are capable of very good work at high speed, provided that the seed has been graded well and has short, sturdy sprouts or eyes that are just open. The most common automatic planters are equipped with an automatic feeding mechanism, consisting of a vertical revolving chain or belt with two rows of cups. The cups pick the seed from the hopper, bring it down behind a furrow opener and drop it at the required spacing into the furrow. Two adjustable discs or ridgers at the rear of the machine cover the seed. Good alternatives for planting presprouted seed have been adopted for gentle handling of sprouted seed. Here, the planting system consists not of planting cups but a gutter shaped belt for example. With this system, the potatoes are arranged in a continuous line on the plantingbelts to guarantee proper tuber spacing in the row.

Checks
Consult the instructions for proper planter settings. Check frequently for a correct seed drop, double sand blanks, row spacing, planting depth and soil cover. Mechanized potato methods require straight planting, avoiding deviations in row spacing between the planter’ spasses. Correctly set markers are helpful in this, while the same stroke must be maintained during planting and ridging.