Potato yield depending on evapotranspiration in the Vojvodina Province

Abstract

The dependence of yields on water consumption for évapotranspiration was studied in a field experiment, which was conducted over a five year period, using both irrigation and non-irrigation controls, and applying various pre-irrigation soil moisture. The aim of the study was to determine a rational irrigation regime for potatoes under the climate conditions of the Vojvodina Province. It was found that irrigation has a high effect on yield increases. The low limit of optimum soil moisture for potatoes is 75-80% of field water capacity (FWC). Positive, highly significant dependence between yields and water consumption for évapotranspiration (r=0.75) was determined. According to the results obtained in our experiment, the water requirements for the highest yield of potatoes were at the same level, ranging from 460 to 480 mm, regardless of various conditions for the years studied.