Potato yield and quality depending on pre-irrigation moisture level in chernozem soil

Abstract

A field trial was conducted on the calcareous c horizon of the loss terrace of the Vojvodina Province, Serbia and Montenegro. The trial included evaluation of several potato varieties for yields and quality. Irrigations were performed at three levels of preirrigation soil moisture, 60% of field water capacity (FWC), 70% FWC, and 80% FWC. The control plot was not irrigated. Irrigation increased the yield of potato two to two and half times. The largest yield increase was measured with the preirrigation soil moisture of 70% FWC, i.e., when irrigation was applied at 55% of the available soil water. Evapotranspiration rate of potato increased in proportion with the increase of preirrigation soil moisture, the largest yield being achieved when 470 mm of water were used. Irrigation positively affected tuber size and it reduced the contents of dry matter and ash in the tubers. Also, the irrigated potato had somewhat reduced contents of starch and cellulose. Irrigation exhibited no effect on the contents of total and reducing sugars and pH.