Response of potato cultivars ‘Atlantic’ and ‘Medians’ to the modified micro-climate at medium altitude

Abstract

Cultivation of potato crop in high-temperature areas can cause the quality and quantity of yield to decrease. In order to overcome problems caused by high temperatures in medium plains in Indonesia, there are a number of environmental modifications that can be made. For instance, a treatment utilizing screen net shade allows optimal growth of potatoes. Choosing a type of cultivar fit to be planted in medium plains is also essential in order to know which of them that are adjusting and producing well. The experiment was conducted at the Research Station of Agriculture Department of Padjajaran University, located at 685 meters above sea level, using inceptisol soil with D3 type of rainfall. This research utilized the Split-Plot Design experimental method. The main plot was exposed to a modified micro-climate screen net shade treatment (without shade, with 30% screen net shade and with 40% sreen net shade). The plot factors consisted of Atlantic and Medians cultivars. The experiment consisted of six treatments with four replications each, totalling to 24 factorial plots. The results showed interaction between the shade and cultivars to the amount of yields grown at medium plain. However, it didn’t show any effects on growth. The plot receiving the 30% screen net shade treatment had independently produced taller plants, wider leaf area and bigger dry weight of Medians cultivars compared to the Atlantic cultivars. The results also showed an increased weight of both Atlantic and Medians cultivars, the number of the Medians cultivar tubers being higher than that of the Atlantic cultivars. It can be concluded that the 30% screen net shade treatment was able to increase the production of both Atlantic and Median cultivars grown in medium plains.