Abstract
The neutron probe, infrared thermometry and crop water stress index (CWSI), and a computer-assisted irrigation scheduling method were evaluated in terms of their effect on tuber yield, tuber quality, and water use. The experiment was conducted during 1990 and 1991 near Othello, central Washington, using Russet Burbank potatoes grown in a silt loam soil. Irrigation treatments did not commence until after tuber initiation. In general, no differences in total number of tubers and total tuber yield resulted from the different scheduling methods. However, the canopy temperature method showed reduction in the yield of number one tubers in 1990. The least total irrigation water was applied during the growing season with the neutron probe method. Using CWSI values above 0.5 to 1.0 (scale 0 to 10) for two consecutive days as a threshold to schedule irrigations appeared to be adequate for potatoes grown in silt loam soils. However, shortcomings of infrared thermometry suggested that this method may not be practical for scheduling irrigation of potatoes.
Compendio
La sonda de neutrones, la termometría infraroja y el índice de presión de agua del cultivo, y un método de programación de riegos con apoyo computadorizado fueron evaluados en términos de sus efectos sobre el rendimiento y la calidad de los tubérculos y la utilizatión del agua. Los experimentos fueron conducidos durante 1990 y 1991, cerca de Othello, en el centro de Washington, utilizando papas Russet Burbank cultivadas en un suelo tipo migajón-aluvión. Los tratamientos de riego no se aplicaron hasta después del inicio de la tuberización. En general, no hubieron diferencias en el número total de tubérculos y el rendimiento total en tubérculos en los diferentes métodos de programación. Sin embargo, en 1990, el método de la temperatura del follaje mostró una reducción en el rendimiento de tubérculos #1. La menor cantidad de agua de riego fue aplicada durante la temporada de cultivo con el método de la sonda de neutrones. Utilizando valores CWSI por encima de 0.5 a 1.0 (escala 0 a 10), por dos días consecutivos, como inicio de la programación de riegos para papas cultivadas en suelo migajón-aluvión es aparentemente lo adecuado. Sin embargo, las deficiencias de la termometría infraroja sugieren que este método puede no ser práctico para programar la irrigación de la papa
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Contribution from the Agriculture Research Center, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164. This work was supported in part by the Washington State Potato Commission
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Stockle, C.O., Hiller, L.K. Evaluation of on-farm irrigation scheduling methods for potatoes. American Potato Journal 71, 155–164 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02849050
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02849050