The Effects of Shifting Planting Dates and Mulching on Late Blight (Phytophthora infestans) and Drought Stress of Potato Crops Grown under Tropical Highland Conditions

Abstract

SUMMARYPotatoes (Solanum tuberosumL.) in central Africa are often grown between two rainy seasons to avoid late blight infection. The influence of planting date and setaria mulch treatment on soil temperature, soil humidity, late blight development, ground cover with green leaves, intercepted radiation and tuber yield of potato was studied in crops grown at 1850 m above sea level in Rwanda.The planting dates towards the end of the rainy season resulted in the best yields and these were considerably increased by mulching which retained soil moisture and reduced soil temperature so resulting in a better ground cover. Increased yields in the mulched plots seemed to be due to increased radiation interception rather than to better radiation use efficiency.