Abstract
Attempts were made to study effects of planting techniques on crop dry matter (DM), intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (fIPAR), tuber yield (y), evapotranspiration (ET), water-use efficiency and y–ET relationship of potato under varying irrigation regimes. Field experiments were conducted for three seasons with four irrigation regimes: 2, 3, 4 and 5 numbers of irrigation per season (I1, I2, I3 and I4, respectively), and three planting methods: S1-normal single row planting with 50-cm row-to-row and 15-cm plant-to-plant spacing with 50-cm furrow spacing; S2-paired-row planting at 25-cm spacing, 75-cm furrow spacing; and S3-paired-row planting at 50-cm spacing with 100-cm furrow spacing. Though the highest tuber yield was recorded in I4, it was marginally higher than that in I3; whereas the highest WUE was obtained with I3. Optimum irrigation in I3 and I4 maintained higher crop DM, greater fIPAR, ET and better tuber formation than in I1 and I2. No significant yield reduction occurred due to paired-row method (S2); however, irrigation volume reduced by 21%; crop WUE increased by 8.2% and irrigation WUE increased by 21% in S2 compared with S1. The y–ET functions were found quadratic with downward concave; and elasticity of water production functions (Ewp) were used to reveal the dynamic relationship of y, ET and WUE. Findings suggest that the ET of 348 mm would be required to achieve maximum WUE of 44.11 kg ha−1 mm−1 with paired-row furrow irrigated system; and this would result in tuber yield of 15.42 t ha−1. Crop response factor (Ky) values indicated that tuber yield reduction would be directly proportional to reduced irrigation. Therefore, it is concluded that potato could be grown with paired-row method of planting at 75 × 20 cm spacing, and the ET demand of 348 mm should be met to achieve maximum tuber yield and increased WUE. The study could be an important reference for water-saving of potato production in tropical sub-humid conditions.
Published Version
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