The Dependence of Crop Potatoes on the Level of Irrigation under Polish Conditions

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the dependence of potato crops on the level of irrigation in three mesoregions of Poland. The field experiments were carried out in 2009–2011 according to an obligatory methodology for evaluation of crop cultivars. Three factors were tested: two cultivation practices (with irrigation and without irrigation as control), five potato cultivars, and three locations (Masłowice, Szczecin-Dąbie, and Węgrzce). The study was conducted in randomized blocks in triplicate. The study included the same nutrition across locations and protection against potato blight. Irrigation was applied according to the criterion of optimal soil moisture at a humidity decrease below 70% of the field water capacity. At the time of harvest, total and commercial yields of tubers were determined. Detailed analysis of the dependent variables, total and marketable yield, and the independent variables for the second harvest date, confirmed confidence in the achieved results. The coefficients of variation for total and marketable yield, on the second harvest date, were 23% and 25%, respectively, which means high stability for the results. Irrigation of potato plantations contributed to an increase in the total yield of tubers in the first harvest term by 3.22 t·ha−1 and by 7.23 t·ha−1 -in the second term; and the commercial yield of tubers by 3.45 t·ha−1 in the first term and by 7.42 t·ha−1 -in the second term of tuber harvest. The highest watering efficiency in the first harvest time, 60 days after planting, was distinguished by the “Miłek” variety, and in the second harvest date by the “Denar” variety.