Requirements and Effects of Surface Drip Irrigation of Mid-Early Potato Cultivar Courage on a Very Light Soil in Central Poland

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine the water needs and results of drip irrigation of mid-early potato cultivar Courage. Studies were carried out in central Poland in 2011–2013 on very light soil. The experiment was designed as two-factorial trials with four replications. The first factor was drip irrigation: O = control (without irrigation), D = drip irrigation. The second factor was the nitrogen fertilization method: P = broadcasting, F = drip fertigation. Nitrogen fertilization was 120 kg N ha−1 on each plot. Crop coefficients for irrigation period were 0.4 in June and 0.6 in July and August. According to calculations based on the crop coefficients and correction coefficients acc. HargreavesDA model the water requirement of potato for June–August was 202 mm. Drip irrigation increased the marketable tuber yield by 55%. Irrigation water use efficiency increased from 257 kg ha−1 mm−1 in D + P to 264 kg ha−1 mm−1 in D + F. The productivity of 1 kg of nitrogen fertilization was 189 kg ha−1 in control non-irrigated plots and 321 kg ha−1 in drip-irrigated plots, and it rose up to 337 kg ha−1 when fertilization was applied by fertigation.

Response of Chosen American Asparagus officinalis L. Cultivars to Drip Irrigation on the Sandy Soil in Central Europe: Growth, Yield, and Water Productivity

“…The other tested cultivars, on average, for 2 years of research, were described by IWUE as ranging from 26 kg•ha −1 •mm −1 to 41 kg•ha −1 •mm −1 . Diverse irrigation water use efficiency in the cultivation of various asparagus cultivars has been confirmed by the results of previous trials conducted in the central Poland (region of Bydgoszcz) with other cultivars of asparagus [2,14] and vegetable species [50,51] or berry plants [52][53][54][55].…”

Tuber yield and water efficiency of early potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivated under various irrigation levels

“…Potato tuber yield losses in the absence of water can reach as much as 69% 4 , and also reduces the development of the aboveground part: leaf and stem biomass. The pot experiment conducted on the dynamics of the aboveground growth parts under the excess water also shows large differences between varieties 1 – 3 , 9 . Tuber yield is closely related to soil humidity and genetic properties.…”

“…The varietal differences result from the different lengths of the growing period, and with a short vegetation, the greatest demand for water occurs in the early growing stages 12 . The critical periods of potato demand for water recognized in the literature are: flower bud formation—flowering—tuber formation (tuberization)—ripinning of the plants (tuber mass accumulation) 9 , 13 , 14 . Milić et al (2010) 15 stated that the optimum soil humidity for potato is 70% of the field water capacity when cultivated on medium textured soil.…”

Sustainable Crop Production Protects the Quality of Soil and Plant Raw Materials

“…The economical use of water resources is important in sustainable agricultural production. The main goal of research related to this issue is the estimation of water needs of agricultural and horticultural plants [7,8]. The research results may constitute the basis for designing resource-efficient irrigation programs necessary for agricultural and horticultural crops in light of the observed global climate change.…”

“…On the other hand, common use of fertigation in agricultural practice can reduce the risk of environmental contamination. Drip irrigation, especially combined with drip fertigation, allows us to increase the productivity of crops [8].…”