Punktiarvestus

Punktiarvestus is a harvesting method that is primarily used in potato farming. The term can be roughly translated to English as "point harvesting," although it is more accurately described as an incremental or partial harvesting method.

During punktiarvestus, a portion of the potato crop is harvested at a time, typically when the potatoes are still relatively small. This is usually done in three stages: the first stage, when the potatoes are harvested at a point when they are still quite small, often around 100-125 grams each; the second stage, when the next portion of the crop is harvested; and the third stage, when the remainder of the crop is harvested.

Punktiarvestus can be advantageous in exploiting the storage period of the potatoes as the size of the tubers increases. At the end of the storage period, the potatoes have reached a more marketable size, and the stored potatoes can still be sold. This allows the grower to benefit from higher market prices that come with having larger tubers, while minimizing losses due to excess crop spoilage.

Additionally, punktiarvestus may offer benefits related to disease management. Harvesting a portion of the crop more quickly can help to remove plants that may be more susceptible to certain diseases, reducing the spread of disease to the remaining plants.

The use of punktiarvestus varies by region and according to local farming practices. While the method can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, appropriate use of punktiarvestus may provide significant economic benefits for potato farmers.