Water-yield relationships of potato under different irrigation methods and regimens

Abstract

Yield response to irrigation of different crops is of major importance in production planning where water resources are limited. This study aims to determine the effect of different irrigation methods and irrigation regimens on potato yield in the Trakya Region, Turkey, during 2003 and 2005. Potato was grown under furrow and drip irrigation methods and three regimens: irrigation applied when 30, 50, or 70% of the available water was consumed. The seasonal potato evapotranspiration ranged on 501 to 683 mm in 2003, and 464 to 647 mm in 2005. The furrow and drip irrigation methods had no significant effect on tuber yield for both years. Irrigation regimens influenced tuber yield (P < 0.05) in 2005, and the highest tuber yield was registered for 30% irrigation regimen, reaching 35.13 t ha-1 in 2003, and 44.56 t ha-1 in 2005. Water use efficiency values increased from 4.70 to 6.63 kg m-3 for furrow-irrigated treatments, and from 5.19 to 9.47 kg m-3 for drip-irrigated treatments.