Soil Matric Potential-Based Irrigation Scheduling to Potato in the Northwestern Indian Plains

Abstract

A field investigation was conducted in sandy loam soil for two potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) growing seasons (October–January) to standardize the appropriate soil matric potential along with its depth of measurement during 2011–12 and 2012–13. The investigation was conducted under furrow-ridge irrigation system. The treatments comprised three soil matric potential (20, 35, 50 Kpa: (denoted as) S20, S35, S50) and three soil measured depth (20, 30, 40 cm: (denoted as) D20, D30 and D40) and a control (traditional practice) were replicated four times in randomized complete block design (RCBD). Analysis of pooled data for marketable and graded tuber yield, average tuber weight, discarded percent of tubers, root dry weight, plant height and above-ground dry matter accumulation 30, 60 days after planting (DAP) and at harvest favored under S35D20 and S20D20 treatments. Similarly pooled data of Water Use Efficiency (WUI) and Irrigation Water Use Efficiency (WUEi) for S35D20 treatment were more than double that of control treatment along with higher marketable tuber yield, beside 49% irrigation water savings. Our results revealed S35D20 was the best treatment for irrigation scheduling in potato. Conclusively, adopting this threshold corresponded to applying single irrigation two weeks after the complete emergence of crop and remaining 2–3 irrigations at 17 days interval, depending on the effective rainfall and potato growing season in the region.