The Effect of Inter-Row Tillage on Potato Yield Quality and Quantity and Water Use Efficiency in A Fine-Textured Soil

efficiency was investigated during a 2-year period (2009-2010) in a silty clay loam soil in Tajarak Research Station (Kaboudarahang Township), Hamedan. The experimental design was a strip-plot within a randomized complete blocks design. The horizontal band, the irrigation water rate after flowering, included full and deficit irrigation (100% and 75% potato water requirement) and the vertical band, kind of inter-planting row tillage including 1- subsoiling to 30-35 cm soil depth, 2- chiseling to 20-25 cm soil depth, 3- sweeping to 5 cm soil depth and 4- no-till. During the growing season, soil mechanical resistance (cone index) in two stages and water infiltration into the soil were measured. At the end of the growth season (harvesting time), potato yield quantity and quality were measured. Result showed that the effect of inter-row tillage on soil mechanical resistance was significant. Subsoiling and chiseling had lower soil mechanical resistance and higher water permeability between treatments, respectively. The effect of inter-row tillage on potato yield was significant so subsoiling and chiseling had a higher potato yield between treatments, respectively. The effect of irrigation water rate on potato yield was not significant. The effect of inter-row tillage on water use efficiency wasn’t significant.