The effect of rigid scheduling on productivity and water-use of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) grown under small-scale irrigation
by T.C. Ferreira, M.L.M. Fernandes, D.F. Thies, Z.C. Rego
International Journal of Water (IJW), Vol. 2, No. 2/3, 2002

Abstract: This paper evaluates the results of a study highlighting the effect of rigid scheduling on crop water use and soil water extraction patterns, crop coefficients, crop response functions and water-use efficiency (WUE). The cumulative Penman potential evapotranspiration (Etp) at the end of the season reached around 400 mm and the total depth of water applied between planting and harvest through irrigation (I) and rainfall (P) varied from 68 mm in rain-fed treatments to 670 mm in the wettest treatment. Crop water-use (Etc) varied from about 120 mm to around 280 mm corresponding to a daily mean value of Etc at the maximum stage of growth (55 days after planting) from about 1.3 mm to around 5.6 mm for fully irrigated crops. Maximum crop coefficients (Kc) ranged from 0.46 for rain-fed crops to 1.2. Crop yield reached ca. 9.1 t ha^-1; for rain-fed treatments and ca. 31.1 t ha^-1; for irrigated crops. The relationship between the total tuber fresh weight (t ha^-1;) and total water applied (P+I) yielded a polynomial quadratic function (r²=75%). By contrast, the relationship between the total tuber fresh weight (t ha^-1;) and total water-use displayed a linear function (r²=66%). The WUE for total water applied ranged from ca. 0.14 t ha^-1; mm^-1; in rain-fed crops to ca. 0.04 t ha^-1; mm^-1; for well irrigated crops following a linear function (r²=84%). These results indicate that rigid scheduling under small scale irrigation affects productivity, water-use and water-use efficiency of potatoes with a considerable waste of resources.

Online publication date: Tue, 15-Jul-2003

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Water (IJW):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com