Abstract
The effect of in-row seedpiece spacing on Shepody potatoes for processing was tested under dryland conditions in southern Manitoba over three growing seasons, 1982 to 1984. Four seedpiece spacings, 22, 30, 38, and 46 cm were evaluated in two trials each year, one harvested as an early maincrop and the other as a maincrop.
Yields of total, marketable, maingrade and small tubers decreased and yields of oversize tubers increased with wider spacings. Specific gravity tended to decrease with increased spacing. With wider spacing the incidence of hollow heart tended to increase in oversize tubers, but did not vary in maingrade tubers.
Gross crop values and net crop values were derived from a formula based on contracts between local processors and growers for tubers delivered in September directly from the field. Gross crop values decreased with wider spacings. Optimum net crop values were achieved at an in-row spacing of 38 cm between seedpieces for the maincrop harvest regardless of seed cost. At the early maincrop harvest net crop value peaked at the 38 cm spacing when a high seed cost was used. However, when a low seed cost was used, net crop values reached a maximum at the 30 and 38 cm spacings.
Resumen
Se estudió el efecto del distanciamiento dentro del surco, cuando se utilizaba semilla cortada de la variedad Shepody de papa para procesamiento, bajo condiciones de tierras áridas del sur de Manitoba, duantes tres temporadas de cultivo, 1982 a 1984. Se evaluaron cuatro distanciamientos de la semilla cortada, 22, 30, 38 y 46 cm, en dos ensayos por año, uno cosechada como cultivo principal temprano y el otro como cultivo principal del año.
Los estudios en tubérculos total, comerciable, de tubérculos del grado preferido, y de tubérculos pequeños disminuyeron, y los rendimientos en tubérculos de gran tamaño se incrementaron con los mayores distanciamientos. El peso específico tendió a disminuir con el mayor distanciamiento, que también motivó una mayor incidencia de corazón vacío en los tubérculos de gran tamaño lo que no se observó en los tuberculos de tamaño principal o preferido.
Los valores bruto y neto del cultivo fueron obtenidos utilizando una formula basada en contratos entre procesadores locales y los productores, para tubérculos entregados en setiembre, directamente del campo. Los valores brutos del cultivo disminuyeron con los mayores distanciamientos. Los valores netos óptimos del cultivo fueron alcanzados cuando el distanciamiento entre los trozos de semilla cortada fue de 38 cm para el cultivo principal, independientemente del costo de la semilla. A la cosecha del cultivo principal temprano el valor neto del cultivo llegó a su máximo con el espaciamiento de 38 cm cuando se utilizó un alto costo de semilla. Sin embargo, cuando un bajo costo de semilla fue utilizado, los valores netos del cultivo alcanzaron su máximo con los distanciamientos de 30 y 38 cm.
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Rex, B.L., Russell, W.A. & Wolfe, H.R. The effect of spacing of seedpieces on yield, quality and economic value for processing of Shepody potatoes in Manitoba. American Potato Journal 64, 177–189 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02853461
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02853461