Influence of irrigation, nitrogen and seed piece spacing on yields and tuber size distribution of seed potatoes

Abstract

Waterer, D. 1997. Influence of irrigation, nitrogen and seed piece spacing on yields and tuber size distribution of seed potatoes. Can. J. Plant Sci. 77: 141-148. This study examined the influence of irrigation, soil nitrogen (N) levels and seed piece spacing on the yields and tuber size distribution of Norland, Russet Burbank and Shepody potatoes over three seasons at two sites in central Saskatchewan. The crops were grown under standard irrigated conditions or on dryland with in-row spacings of 15, 23 or 30 cm and total N levels of 200 or 300 kg ha -1 as either preplant or split applications. Irrigation greatly enhanced yields of all tuber size categories in the drier years but had less effect if seasonal precipitation reached or exceeded normal levels. Smaller size tubers formed a greater proportion of the total yield in crops exposed to drought stress. Norland was less affected by drought than the later-maturing cultivars. Yield responses to N were limited to situations where soil moisture was abundant or crop demand for nutrients was increased by close in-row spacings. Close in-row spacing increased total yields in some cases, while in others it resulted in a reduction in tuber size with little effect on overall yields. Yields for the cultivar Norland were less affected by seed piece spacing than yields for Russet Burbank or Shepody.Key words: Solanum tuberosum, drop seed, spacing, fertility Waterer, D. 1997. Influence de l'irrigation, des concentrations azotées du sol et de l'écartement des plantons, sur le rendement et sur la répartition des calibres des tubercules dans la culture des pommes de terre de semence. Can. J. Plant Sci. 77: 141-148. Nous avons examiné pendant trois années à deux emplacements du centre de la Saskatchewan l'effet de l'irrigation, de la teneur en N du sol et de l'écartement des plantons sur le rendement et sur la répartition des calibres des tubercules des cultivars de pommes de terre Norland, Russet Burbank et Shepody. Les cultures, irriguées ou non, étaient conduites à espacement de 15, 23 ou 30 cm sur la ligne, dans des sols dosant 200 ou 300 kg de N total par hectare. L'engrais azoté était épandu, soit avant la plantation, soit en apports fractionnés. En années sèches, l'irrigation augmentait fortement le rendement en tubercules dans toutes les classes de calibre, mais en régime de précipitations normales ou supérieures à la moyenne, l'effet était moins prononcé. Les cultures soumises à un stress hydrique produisaient une plus forte proportion de petits tubercules. Le cultivar Norland était plus tolérant à la sécheresse que les autres cultivars plus tardifs. L'effet du niveau N de sol sur le rendement ne s'observait qu'en sol bien pourvu en eau ou qu'en plus forte densité de peuplement. La plantation à faible écartement résultait, tantôt en un accroissement du rendement total, tantôt en une diminution du calibre, sans effet toutefois sur le rendement global. L'influence de l'é-cartement sur le rendement était moins prononcé dans le cas de Norland que dans celui des 2 autres va...

Petiole sap NO3-N testing as a method for monitoring nitrogen nutrition of potato crops

“…By contrast in this study, the optimum level of N for Norland was substantially lower than Shepody and Russet Burbank (Table 2). In previous studies in Saskatchewan, Norland has been relatively unresponsive to N fertility, particularly relative to the slower maturing cultivars (Waterer 1997). Other authors have also reported a strong influence of environment on the nutrient requirements of various potato cultivars (Curwen and Peterson 1976;Johnson et al 1995).…”

“…For all three cultivars, yields with no added N were within 15% of the maximum obtained with supplemental N (Table 2). Fertilizer use efficiency of potatoes is known to be low and limited yield responses to N fertilizer are common in both research trials and commercial situations (Johnson et al 1995;Waterer 1997). Kelling and Wolkowski (1991) found the N requirements of fast-maturing determinant cultivars such as Norland and Russet Norkotah were substantially higher than indeterminant types like Russet Burbank.…”

The effect of irrigation strategies during tuber initiation on marketable yield and development of common scab disease of potato in Russet Burbank in Tasmania

“…Scheduling of irrigation during potato growth is critical for optimising yield, quality and economic returns (Waterer, 1997). Irrigation strategies can also have a marked effect on incidence of disease.…”

“…Irrigation strategies can also have a marked effect on incidence of disease. Potato cultivars differ in their optimal requirements for soil moisture and their tolerance of water deficit and excess (Lynch & Tai, 1989;Jefferies & MacKerron, 1993;Lynch et al, 1995;Waterer, 1997;Shock et al, 1998). Tuber quality during production of Russet Burbank, which comprises greater than 80% of the total annual crop in Tasmania, Australia, is sensitive to soil moisture stresses and thus careful irrigation scheduling is critical for optimal production.…”

Increasing In-Row Spacing Enhances Potato Virus Y and Potato Leafroll Virus Spread in Potato

“…For cv. Russet Burbank, the optimal in-row spacing is between 23 and 46 cm (Love and Thompson-Johns 1999;Waterer 1997). Pavek and Thornton (2005) surveyed commercial potato fields and found that the average in-row spacing was 29 cm.…”