Canopy-air temperature differential for potato under different irrigation regimes*

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to determine canopy-air temperature differential, which can be used to quantify crop water stress index (CWSI) for potato. The crop was cultivated under furrow irrigation and subjected to three irrigation regimes in which irrigation was applied when 30, 50 and 70% of the available water holding capacity was consumed, and three irrigation levels (100, 50 and 0% replenishment of soil water depleted). The highest yield and water use was obtained under non-water-stressed treatments (100% replenishment of soil water depleted) for each irrigation regime. The lower (non-stressed) and upper (stressed) baselines were determined empirically from measurements of canopy temperatures, ambient air temperatures and vapour pressure deficit values and the CWSI was calculated with three irrigation levels for each irrigation regime. Trends in CWSI values were consistent with the soil water contents induced by the deficit irrigations. Average CWSI before irrigation values of 0.49 for irrigation when 30% of the available water holding capacity was consumed, 0.55 for irrigation when 50% of the available water holding capacity was consumed and 0.69 for irrigation when 70% of the available water holding capacity was consumed, produce maximum tuber yield. The yield was also directly correlated with seasonal CWSI values.