Fog and Frost Raise Concerns for Potato Farmers — Protect Your Crop with These 5 Essential Tips

How to Protect Potato Crops from Frost and Severe Cold

Krishi Dunia

• 22 Nov, 2025 01:32 PM IST ,
• Updated Sun, 23 Nov 2025 03:24 PM

With temperatures dropping rapidly across the country, the weather department has warned that fog and frost may intensify in the coming days. This poses a serious threat to Rabi crops—especially mustard and potatoes. According to agricultural experts, potato crops are the most vulnerable during frost conditions, as the leaves get scorched and overall yield drops significantly.

Farmers are therefore advised to stay alert and adopt preventive measures to safeguard their crops. Here are the key expert-recommended methods to protect potato fields during extreme cold:

 How to Protect Potato Crops from Frost and Severe Cold

1. Use Light and Controlled Irrigation

During winter, soil temperature drops sharply at night. To reduce damage:

• Apply light irrigation in the evening.
• Irrigate on alternate days if needed.

The moisture helps create a mild layer of vapor around the plants, reducing the impact of cold air.

2. Apply Soil Around the Base of Plants

Creating a thin soil cover around the stem and root zone helps:

• Prevent cold air from reaching the lower parts of the plant.
• Protect the roots from freezing damage.

This simple step can significantly reduce crop loss.

3. Create Smoke Around the Field

If temperatures fall drastically:

• Burn straw, crop residues, or dry wood to create controlled smoke.
• A layer of smoke blocks cold air from settling on the field.

This method works especially well for smaller farms.

4. Use Mulching

Mulching helps:

• Maintain a stable soil temperature
• Preserve soil moisture

Farmers can use dry grass, straw, leaves, or plastic mulch sheets for better insulation.

5. Spray Organic Protective Solutions

Spraying neem oil or neem leaf extract:

• Forms a protective layer on the foliage
• Also helps prevent disease attacks during cold and foggy conditions

Important Advisory for Farmers

Agriculture scientists warn that without timely precautions, frost can reduce potato yields by 10–40%. Farmers are advised to implement protective measures immediately to avoid significant losses.

By following these simple and effective practices, farmers can safeguard their potato crops from fog, frost, and extreme cold—and ensure a healthy and profitable harvest.