Root crops

Key words potatoes, sugar beet, quota, soil management, weed control, blight, rhizomania. 

On 1 July 1997 a new organisation, the Potato Industry Development Council, was formed to take over some of the activities of the old PMB. It is now called the Potato Cormdl, is part of the Agricirltirral arrd Hortieultural Development Board arrd its objeetives are to  

Deliver value for money for levy payers in everything it does. 

Improve effieiency and productivity in the irrdustry to help levy payers have thriving brrsinesses. 

Improve rrrarketing in the industry to help profitability and ctrstomer awareness. 

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Lupine seed, though used primarily in animal feeds (see Feeds AND FEED ADDITIVES), does have potential for use in human appHcations as a replacement for soy flour, and is reported to contain both trypsin inhibitors and hemagglutenins (17). The former are heat labile at 90°C for 8 minutes the latter seem much more stable to normal cooking temperatures. Various tropical root crops, including yam, cassava, and taro, are also known to contain both trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors, and certain varieties of sweet potatoes may also be impHcated (18). 

Excess soil from samples such as a root crop should be removed with light brushing but never washed prior to placing the samples into collection bags. In the case of mature root crops, e.g., sugar beet, the roots and leaves should be processed separately, and the weights of leaves and roots should be determined separately in the field. 

In most cases, if soil samples are needed, only surface samples are collected. An exception would be harvesting root crops where all residues in the top 6 in of soil would be sampled. A typical surface soil sampler is shown in Figure 2. It is the residue adsorbed on small particles (<150 o.m), which could cling to moist skin, which causes the most exposure to workers. After sampling, place a flag in the center of each sampled location to mark the area against future sampling. After the surface layer has been collected, the soil is sieved to collect the fraction <150 lam and the remainder of the soil is discarded. Maintain separate sieves and collectors for treated and control plots to prevent contamination of the control samples. 

Wheat is a deep-rooted plant which grows well on rich and heavy soils and in the sunnier eastern and southern parts of the country. Winter wheat can withstand most of the frosty conditions of this country, but is easily killed by water-logged soil conditions. It needs a pH higher than 5.5. It is the best cereal to grow when the soil is highly fertile, so it should follow grain legumes and root crops... 

Barley is an important crop, with the best quality grains sold for malting and the remainder used for feeding all classes of stock, especially pigs, dairy cows and intensively fed beef. Barley straw can be used for bedding and as a maintenance ration. Barley is a shallow-rooted crop which grows well on chalk and limestone soils, with a preferred pH of 6.5. Its place in the rotation can be when soil fertility is low, which means that it can follow a previous cereal crop such as wheat. 

Field test work with technically pure gamma isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane has been extensive and involved and is being continued. It was necessary to know such factors as insecticidal value in field applications as compared to other insecticides, as well as residual life, residue from the poison standpoint, and residual taste or odor factors. These factors have been worked out on numerous crops and some of the results are dealt wTith in this paper. Because the pure gamma isomer was found to be effective on insects in the soil as well as on insect infestations on plants, its residual life in soil of all types and effects on tuber and root crops were also of major importance. 

Pectins occur naturally in both soluble and insoluble forms. Soluble pectin occurs in plant juices and is particularly abundant in those juices which form jellies, such as black-currant and gooseberry. Insoluble pectins tend to occur in the green parts of plants, in fruit and in root crops.1 This insolubility is apparently due either to the presence of the pectin as its insoluble calcium or magnesium salt or because it is combined (esterified ) with cellulose or some other insoluble polysac-... 

All of these cereals and cassava, which is a root crop, will grow where wheat will not. Sorghum will grow in particularly unfavourable conditions. 

Yam tubers of Dioscorea alata (Umudike cultivar), D. rotundata (asukwu and obiaturugo cultivars)" and D. cayenensis (water yam and Nkokpu cultivars) were obtained from the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Nigeria. Some tubers were stored 6 or 12 months at room temperature (25-27 °C), some in vacuum dessicators over a suitable dessicant, and some in paper bags placed in a dark cabinet (absence of circulating air). Fresh tubers were peeled by carefully scraping away the cork layer to minimize loss of outer tissue since much of the protein is concentrated here ( ). They were then cut into 2 cu. cm. pieces, quickly frozen with solid CO2 in 50 9 portions in plastic bags, and stored in a freezer until needed. 

Hoffman, G.J., Rawlins, S.L. Growth and Water Potential of Root Crops as Influenced by Salinity and Relative Humidityl. Agron. J. 63(6), 877-880 (1971)... 

You may be able to simply pull root crops out of the ground. If not, use a fork to loosen them gently, causing minimal disruption to the soil. As when planting, some soil disturbance is inevitable, but this is minimal compared with that caused by digging. 

Small seeds and root crops are unsuitable for sheet mulches in the first year, but in the following season the surface of the ground should be crumbly and very suitable for sowing. It is useful to continue to keep the soil mulched to prevent the germination of weed seeds, protect the soil from crusting after heavy rain, and conserve moisture. 

Leaf mold and other low-fertility soil improvers these are beneficial preceding root crops. Apply anywhere as a mulch to improve structure, especially over winter. 

Root crops include rutabagas, turnips, and radishes. Spring and summer radishes tend to have small roots, apart from the long white "mooli" types. Winter radishes are much larger. Radishes can also be grown for the peppery seed pods that follow the flowers. 

This family includes both leaf and root crops suitable for warm and cool climates. Spinach and red orache are fast-growing, leafy catch crops. Spinach is best sown in the cool temperatures of spring and fall, as it rapidly goes to seed in hot, dry weather. Sow little and often for a good supply. 

All prefer well-drained soil. Leafy crops can be fitted into a rotation or put among ornamentals cardoons and globe artichokes, which need space, look good in an ornamental border. The roots can join other root crops in a crop rotation, while Jerusalem artichokes make a good windbreak. Lettuce and endive do well in containers. 

Some vegetables—peas and sweet corn in particular, but also young and leafy crops—taste best when eaten as soon as possible after picking. However, most keep well for a few days in a cool garage or in the refrigerator. Potatoes, onions, carrots, and other root crops can be stored to feed you over the winter months. 

Symptoms Young plants wilt or grow poorly, and are easily pulled out of the ground. Established plants may show no obvious symptoms. Damage to root crops (radish, turnip, rutabaga) may make them inedible. Larvae occasionally found inside Brussels sprouts. 

Com, leafy greens and root crops also do well in manured soil. Irish potatoes and sweet potatoes are exceptions. Irish potatoes tend to develop scab and sweet potatoes to crack when fertilized with manure. Peas and beans require httle if ary supplemental nitrogen and do not respond well to manure apphcations. 

C. jejuni have been recovered from vegetables especially root crops (Brandi et al, 2004). However, evidence to date suggests that the main source of Campylobacter recovered from vegetables occurs via crosscontamination events in food service outlets and the domestic environment. 

MAFF/ADAS, 1986, p. 4 Root crops (carrots, swedes, etc. ) 48 60... 

The proximate analyses, mineral composition, digestibility coefficients and nutritive values of brassicas, by-products, grains, grasses, hays, legumes, oil cakes, root crops, seeds and silages are given in MAFF/ADAS (1971) Nutrient Allowances and Composition of Feedingstuffs for Ruminants (Advisory Paper No. 11). 

From intact vegetable crops, apart from tuber, bulb, and root crops, tomatoes and asparagus show potential for radiation treatment. The development of fungal decay in tomatoes caused by Alternaria, Botrytis, or Rhizopus spp. can be controlled using doses of approx. 3 kGy. However, softening and the loss of characteristic flavor may occur. Doses of 0.1 kGy and above result in a delay of ripening of tomatoes [43]. 

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