Water Consumption of Potato (<i>Solanum Tuberosum</i>) Grown under Water Deficit Regulated with Mulched Drip Irrigation

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of mulched drip irrigation under water deficit on soil water content (SWC), stored soil water (SSW), daily water consumption (DWC) and ratio of water consumption in total water use (RWC) of potato in an arid area. Five water deficit treatments designed to subject potato to various levels of soil water deficit at different crop growth stages and a full irrigation control were established. The result indicated that the maximum SWC was at 20 cm depth in soil profile and that in 10 to 40 cm increment varied sharply during potato growing season. The SWC, SSW, DWC and RWC were significantly affected by mulched drip irrigation at water deficit regulation stages except at starch accumulation. Therefore, proper levels of soil water deficit regulated with mulched drip irrigation at proper plant growth stages could be used to regulate soil water status, stored soil water and crop water consumption effectively.