Assesment of Possibility of Mitigating the Adverse Effect of Water Limitation Stress on Growth and Yield of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) by Changing Planting Date

This field experiment was conducted to study the effects of water limitation stress and planting dates on growth and yield of potato in 2014-15 and 2015-16 growing seasons at Faculty of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. Experimental treatments included, four irrigation levels: 55%, 70%, 85% and 100% of water requirement of potato assigned to the main plots, and three planting dates: March 11, April 9 and May 10 randomized in the sup plots as split plot arrangement in randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that plant height and shoot dry weight had a slow growth until 48 days after planting (DAP), however, these two traits considerably increased between 48-104 DAP. At early growth stage, plant height and shoot dry weight was slightly less in March 11 planting as compared with other planting dates, while these two traits were greater in March 11 planting. Water limitation stress reduced plant height, leaf area index, tuber number m-2, tuber yield, biological yield and weight of seed and large tubers weight and increased small tuber weight. There was no significant difference between 100% and 85% of water requirement levels for most of measured traits. In water stress conditions planting date was more important. In 100% water requirement level there was no significant differences between planting dates. Whereas, in stressed conditions, growth and tuber yield of potato were greater in March 11 planting. In conclusion, the results indicated that potato performance was greater in March 11 planting date, particularly in water limited stress conditions, because of better use of precipitation, cooler temperature and lower evaporation in the early season as well as suitable temperature during tuber initation.