The effect of herbicides upon potatoes used for chipping

Conclusions

At least under the conditions of this experiment the use of certain herbicides as a delayed pre-emergence application on potatoes caused some adverse effects both upon the potato tuber and upon the processed chip. The specific gravity of tubers from treated plants was significantly reduced. To a limited extent poor color of the chips was related to the use of a herbicide compound. Finally, an additional adverse effect upon the processed potato chip was the presence of off-flavors.

The observations reported here should stimulate work in the study of the effect of the various herbicides used both commercially and experimentally on potatoes upon the eating quality of the tubers, and in particular upon the eating quality of the processed potatoes such as potato chips. In other words the internal quality of the treated potatoes is an important concern as well as the efficacy of the herbicide as a weed control agent and its effect upon the yield of marketable tubers.