Effect of Various Irrigation Methods on Tuber Yield and Water Productivity of Potato Varieties

Background and Objectives:

 Potato is extremely sensitive to water stress, both from inadequate or excess water, resulting in reductions of tuber yield and quality. The plant has a relatively shallow root system, locating about 85% typically in the upper 30 cm of soil, which increases the sensitivity of the crop to water stress. Variation in soil moisture conditions can also lead to the occurrence of tuber physiological disorders such as brown center, hollow heart, growth cracks, bruise susceptibility, and heat necrosis, typically during the bulking period. A direct relation between low moisture conditions of soil and misshapen tubers has been reported. The aim of study was to assess the growth, yield, yield components, and water productivity of some conventional potato varieties in Bardsir region of Kerman.  

Materials and Methods:

 In order to evaluate the effect of various irrigation methods on growth, yield and yield components of potato varieties, an experiment was conducted as the split-plot based on the randomized complete block design with three replications at experiment station of the Agricultural Faculty of Bardsir, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman during 2015 and 2016. The experimental treatments were irrigation

1- Furrow (flooding), 2-sprinkler and 3- drip assigned to main plot and potato varieties: 1- Marfona, 2- Sante, 3- Agria and 4- Banba as the subplot.   Results The results showed that the effect of irrigation method was significant (P≤0.01) on all the studied traits except in water productivity and percentage of tuber dry mater. The highest mean of tuber weight (71.55 g), number of marketable tuber (6.99), tuber yield (36.98 t ha-1), and shoot dry weight (5.97 t ha-1) were recorded in the furrow irrigation method. The lowest values of the traits were observed using the sprinkler method. The effect of variety treatment on all traits was significant (P≤0.01). For drip and sprinkler irrigation methods, the largest tuber was related to Sante variety, and regarding the surface method, it was gained at Marfona. The highest number of tuber per plant belonged to Sante variety (9.50) followed by Marfona (8.89) which had a significant difference with Banba (7.15) and Agria (6.88) varieties. Tuber percentage of dry weight for Agria variety (27.22) was significantly higher than other varieties (19.93-22.74). The tuber yield for Sante, Marfona, Banba, and Agria was 34.84, 28.91, 26.14, and 21.57 t ha-1, respectively. The maximum level of water productivity (5.93) was gained for santé variety using the sprinkler irrigation method.  

Discussion :

In general, the results indicated that Marfona variety was justly appropriate for flooding irrigation conditions, and santé variety is best for low water supply (drip and sprinkler irrigation methods).