Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Effects on Potato Brown Center and Hollow Heart

Abstract

Significant interactions between irrigation and N management for total yield and for incidence of brown center or hollow heart in potatoes ( Solanum tuberosum L. cv Russet Burbank) were found in field studies conducted in southeastern Idaho during 1987 and 1988. When soil water content was maintained at 80% to 90% available, 30 kg N/ha applied weekly for 3 weeks, beginning shortly after tuber initiation, resulted in a higher incidence of brown center or hollow heart than when the same total amount of N was applied pre-plant or in smaller increments over a longer period of time.