Furrow vs hill planting of sprinkler-irrigated russet burbank potatoes on coarse-textured soils

Surface water runoff from the hill, where potatoes are planted, to the furrow may exacerbate potato drought sensitivity. Planting into furrows and constructing midrow ridges may improve water use efficiency and relieve water stress on potato by directing water toward, not away from, the plants. A 3-year field study was conducted to compare yields and tuber size distributions of furrow- and hill-planted potato (Solanum tuberosum L., ‘Russet Burbank’) on coarse-textured, well-drained soils under sprinkler irrigation. A split-plot experimental design with main plots of row orientation (N-S vs E-W) and subplots of planting method (hill and furrow) combined with two planting depths was used at two central North Dakota sites. Except for planting method and limiting the post-emergence cultivation in the furrow treatments, all cultural practices (fertilizer, irrigation, etc.) were identical and corresponded with conventional practices for hill planted potato. Row orientation did not affect yield for any tuber size category. Averaged over 3 years, furrow-planted potato produced 24% larger tubers (188 vs 151 g), 31% smaller yield for tubers <113 g (4.99 vs 7.21 Mg ha^?1), 28% smaller yield for tubers 113 to 170 g (8.14 vs 11.3 Mg ha^?1), 8% larger yields for tubers 170 to 283 g (18.0 vs 16.6 Mg ha^?1), 103% larger yields for tubers 283 to 454 g (10.9 vs 5.36 Mg ha^?1), 341% larger yields for tubers >454 g (2.65 vs 0.60 Mg ha^?1), and 10% larger total yields (46.2 vs 41.9 Mg ha^?1) compared with hill-planted potato. There were no differences in tuber specific gravity. Preliminary soil water measurements indicated an inter-row water-harvesting effect for furrow planting compared with hill planting. The furrow-planting method may offer significant potential for ameliorating the drought sensitivity of potato.     

The Effect of Nitrogen Rate on Vine Kill,Tuber Skinning Injury,Tuber Yield and Size Distribution,and Tuber Nutrients and Phytonutrients in Two Potato Cultivars Grown for Early Potato Production

Early potatoes are typically produced using less nitrogen than a full season potato crop as high rates of nitrogen may delay tuber set and lead to excessive vine growth that is difficult to terminate prior to harvest. Bintje and Ciklamen potato cultivars were grown with preplant soil nitrogen levels of 34 to 38, 67, and 101 kg N ha^-1 in 2013 and 2014 near Paterson, Washington. Nitrogen rate had little impact on the number of tubers and stems per plant of both cultivars, but increasing nitrogen rate tended to increase leaf area of both cultivars. Vine desiccation of Bintje with diquat was less complete as nitrogen rate increased, while Ciklamen vine kill was reduced by higher nitrogen in 1 of 2 years. Tuber skinning injury, tuber weight loss, and tuber size distribution were not affected by nitrogen rate. Tuber skinning injury and tuber weight loss were reduced in both cultivars by harvesting at 4 weeks after initial vine kill compared to harvesting at 2 weeks after vine kill. Total tuber yield was lower for both Bintje and Ciklamen in 1 of 2 years at the 34 to 38 kg N ha^-1 rate. Tuber nitrogen and zinc levels tended to increase with increasing nitrogen rates, while most other nutrients, vitamin C, total phenolics, and antioxidant capacity showed little response. It appears that 67 kg N ha^-1 provides adequate nitrogen to produce a good tuber set and yield of small tubers while not producing excessive vine growth that may be more difficult to kill.     

Glyphosate Carryover in Seed Potato: Effects on Mother Crop and Daughter Tubers

Field studies were conducted in 2008 and 2009 in Aberdeen, ID, Ontario, OR, and Paterson, WA to determine the effect of simulated glyphosate drift on ‘Ranger Russet’ potato during the application year and the crop growing the next year from the daughter tubers. Glyphosate was applied at 8.5, 54, 107, 215, and 423 g ae ha^?1 which corresponds to 1/00, 1/16, 1/8, ¼, and 1/2 of the lowest recommended single-application rate for glyphosate-resistant corn and sugar beet of 846 g ha^–1. Glyphosate was applied when potato plants were at 10 to 15 cm tall (Early), or at stolon hooking (H), tuber initiation (TI), or during mid-bulking (MB). In general, the MB applications caused less visual foliar injury to the mother crop than earlier applications at ID or OR, and H applications at WA. Mother crop injury increased as glyphosate rate increased regardless of location, application timing, and rating date. U.S. No.1 and total tuber yields were usually related to the injury level resulting from glyphosate application timings and rates. Although injury to the mother crop from glyphosate applied at MB usually was the lowest compared to injury from other application timings, when daughter tubers from that timing were planted the following year, emergence, plant vigor, and yield was most detrimentally impacted compared with that of daughter tubers from other timing treatments. MB daughter tuber emergence was less than 30 % of the nontreated control tuber emergence while emergence of daughter tubers from the other treatments was 60 to 95 %. As rate of glyphosate applied to the mother crop increased, daughter tuber emergence decreased. When MB daughter tubers did emerge, plants were chlorotic and stunted as if the plants had been directly sprayed with glyphosate. Regardless of whether the daughter tubers had defects or not, results the following year were the same. Implications are that if a mother seed crop encounters glyphosate during bulking, injury may not even be noticeable on the foliage or the tubers, however, emergence, vigor, and yield of the crop growing the following year from the daughter tubers could be greatly impacted.     

Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Time on Dry Matter Accumulation and Yield of Chinese Potato Variety KX 13

Application time of nitrogen (N) fertilizer can significantly influence the yield and quality of potato tubers. The objective of this experiment was to assess the effects of N application time on dry matter accumulation in foliage and tubers, as well as on marketable tuber ratio, dry matter concentration, and specific gravity of the Chinese cultivar KX 13. The four treatments were as follows: all the 150 kg?N?ha^?1 applied at planting (T1); 100 kg N ha^?1 applied at planting and 50 kg N ha^?1 applied 1 week before tuber initiation (20 days after emergence, DAE) (T2); 100 kg N ha^?1 applied at planting and 50 kg N ha^?1 applied 1 week before tuber bulking stage (35 DAE) (T3); and 100 kg?N?ha^?1 applied at emergence and 50 kg N ha^?1 applied 1 week before tuber bulking stage (35 DAE) (T4). For all treatments, 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1 ((NH₄)₂HPO₄) and 150 kg K₂O ha^?1 (K₂SO₄) were applied at planting. Thirty tons per hectare of marketable tuber yield was achieved with T3, while 23 t ha^?1 marketable yield was achieved by applying all 150 kg N ha^?1 at planting (T1). Relative to treatment T1, T3 also significantly increased harvest index (HI) from 0.76 to 0.86 and marketable tuber ratio from 64.8% to 79.2%. Applying N at planting in conjunction with dressing at 20 DAE (T2) gave a high marketable tuber ratio (74%) and HI (0.86), but the lower total tuber yield led to a lower marketable tuber yield. Without N application at planting (T4), N dressing did not increase the yield and HI. Treatments with N dressing had no significant effect on specific gravity or dry matter concentration of tubers.     

Environmental conditions influence the content and yield of anthocyanins and total phenolics in purple- and red-flesh potatoes during tuber development

Changes in content and yield of anthocyanins (ACY) and total phenolics (PHEN) during development of purple- and red-flesh potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) were studied in cultivars grown in Texas and Colorado. In both locations, the ACY and PHEN content (mg/100 g tissue) decreased with tuber growth and maturity, while tuber weight (kg), total yield (Ton ha^-1) and compound yields (kg ha^-1) increased. Longer days and cooler temperatures in Colorado favored about a 2.5- and 1.4-times higher ACY and PHEN content, respectively, than in Texas-grown tubers. Harvesting potatoes at later maturity stages maximized compound yields while minimizing the glycoalkaloid content. This information can be useful to potato breeders and producers in selecting appropriate growing conditions for the enhancement of natural colorant and antioxidant yields in purple- and red-flesh potatoes for the nutraceutical and food industry.     

Yield,market quality and petiole nitrate concentration of non-irrigated Russet Burbank and Shepody potatoes in response to sidedressed nitrogen

Russet Burbank and Shepody potatoes were grown with the following four nitrogen treatments: 1) 90 kg ha^?1 at planting; 2) 180 kg ha^?1 at planting; 3) 90 kg ha^?1 at planting followed by an additional 90 kg ha^?1 side-dressed after tuber initiation; or 4) 90 kg ha^?1 at planting followed by an additional 45 kg ha^?1 sidedressing. When compared to the 90 kg ha^?1 at-planting treatment, petiole NO₃-N concentrations increased rapidly after sidedressing and were relatively constant through mid-season. Sidedressed N significantly increased total yields relative to the 90 kg N ha^?1 at-planting treatment by an average of 5.0 t ha^?1 in three of nine experiments. Three of the experiments, where yields did not significantly increase, were on sites which were not expected to respond to supplemental N based on petiole NO₃-N testing. A red clover green manure crop was the previous crop for two of these experimental sites. Petiole NO₃-N testing criteria were only partially effective in detecting sites where response to sidedressed N occurred. When compared to a single application of 180 kg N ha^?1 at planting, split application of 90 kg N ha^?1 at planting followed by a 90 kg N ha^?1 sidedressing significantly reduced total yields in one of nine experiments and did not affect yields in the remaining eight experiments. Tuber uniformity was improved in three of nine experiments by the split-N treatment. Specific gravity was not significantly affected. Use of 45 kg N ha^?1 at side-dressing resulted in similar yield as the 90 kg N ha^?1 sidedressing, although yield of large-sized tubers was often decreased with the lower N rate. Use of reduced at-planting N rates followed by sidedressed N does not appear to increase yields of non-irrigated Russet Burbank and Shepody potatoes when compared to the at-planting N rates that are currently recommended. This management approach can maintain yields at levels comparable to at-planting N programs and does provide an opportunity to reduce N application rates on sites where soil N reserves and soil amendments may make a substantial N contribution to the potato crop. Side-dressed N application can frequently improve yields and tuber size when potatoes have been underfertilized at planting; however, some inconsistency in response can be expected in regions that rely on unpredictable natural rainfall.     

Influence of applied nitrogen on potato part I: Yield,quality, and Nitrogen uptake

Fertilizer nitrogen (N) may be managed to increase crop production and profitability while reducing nitrate contamination of groundwater. A two-year field investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of applied N on tuber yield and quality, dry matter production and N uptake of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. var. Russet Burbank) grown on irrigated sandy soils in Michigan. Nitrogen was applied as ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] at rates of 0, 56 and 112, kg N ha^?1 in a single application at planting or 112 and 168 kg N ha^?1 in split applications during the growing season. Total tuber yield generally increased with N applications up to 112 kg N ha^?1. Only one of the three experimental sites showed an increase in marketable tuber yield when 112 kg N ha^?1 was split evenly between planting and tuber initiation. Tuber specific gravity was not affected by N rate. Nitrogen rates of 112–168 kg N ha^?1 maximized dry matter production and plant tissue N concentration at onset of maturity and harvest. Tuber N concentration at harvest ranged from 13–17 g kg^?1 at two of the three locations. Values for the third experiment were 10–13 g N kg^?1. Whole crop N uptake at onset of senescence ranged from 45 to 225 kg N ha^?1 across all locations and treatments. An average of 67 percent of this N was found in tubers at harvest. Nitrogen fertilization exceeded N removal in harvested tubers by more than 50 kg N ha^?1 only for the 168 kg N ha^?1 treatment. These results indicate that acceptable tuber yield can be obtained with lower N rates than those currently used by most producers, with the potential for reducing net loss of N from the soil.     

Potato Response to Phosphorus Fertilization at Two Sites in Nova Scotia,Canada

Identifying phosphorus (P) requirements and P-use efficiency is crucial to a sustainable potato industry in Eastern Canada. In a three-year study (2013–2015) conducted in Nova Scotia, Canada, we assessed the potato (CV Superior) yield response to P fertilization on two different soils in the Annapolis Valley. Soil organic matter ranged from 3.0% to 4.1% and from 2.0% to 2.5% at the Kentville and Sheffield sites, respectively. Initial soil phosphorus was higher at Kentville site, ranging from 81 to 162 mg kg^?1 than at Sheffield site ranging from 75 to 109 mg kg^-1. A randomized complete block design was used with five P rates (0, 17.5, 35, 52, and 79 kg P ha^?1) applied at planting. Tuber yields were assessed at harvest, and P-uptake efficiency characteristics were measured before vine senescence. Total and marketable yields were not impacted by P rates. Marketable yield was 68% and 57% greater for Kentville than for Sheffield in 2013 and 2015, respectively and were significantly affected by P rates × year interactions at a 5.4% probability level. Quadratic functions were used to describe tuber yield responses to P rates (0.61 > R ² < 0.85) and P rates corresponding to the maximum yields were 17.5 kg P ha^?1 in 2013 and 2015 and 35 kg P ha^?1 in 2014 when data from both sites were pooled together. Phosphorus uptake efficiency ranged from 0.47 to 0.54 g DM mg^?1 P offtake at Kentville and from 0.45 to 0.49 g DM mg^?1 P offtake at Sheffield and was 13% and 7% greater at Kentville than at Sheffield in 2013 and 2015, respectively. While further studies are still needed for recalibration, results from this study provide some of the first information regarding potato response to P fertilization in Nova Scotia. Based on current P recommendations in the region for the same soil P levels, our results suggest that current P rates can be reduced without impacting potato yield.     

Response of Russet Burbank and Shepody potatoes to nitrogen fertilizer in two cropping systems

Russet Burbank and Shepody potatoes were grown with at-planting N fertilizer rates ranging from 0 to 270 kg ha^?1 during 1986 through 1989. Experiments were conducted each year following small grains and red clover. Total yields and tuber size were strongly increased by N on most sites where potatoes followed small grains. Specific gravities declined with increasing N rate. Total yields of Russet Burbank and Shepody were optimized at an average of 196 and 211 kg ha^?1 of N, respectively, following small grains. The effect of N fertilizer on yields was much less dramatic following red clover. Total yields averaged 88% of maximum with only 45 kg ha^?1 of N applied, compared to 77% of maximum for this N rate following small grains. Total yields for the two varieties were optimized at 126 and 136 kg ha^?1, respectively. U.S. #1 yields were generally not increased at N rates above 45 to 90 kg ha^?1 following red clover and tuber size was not increased at rates above 90 to 135 kg ha^?1. Based on these studies, the N fertilizer credit for red clover grown prior to potatoes can be up to 75 kg ha^?1. Maintenance of tuber quality necessitates conservative use of N fertilizer when potatoes are grown following legumes. The highest N rates tested suppressed total yields of Russet Burbank, a late-season, indeterminate variety, by approximately 9% averaged over cropping systems.     

Alaska red: A general purpose,productive, red-skinned potato

‘Alaska Red’ is the first red-skinned potato bred and selected in Alaska as a clone suitable for the fresh potato market. Its parents are Alaska Clone 11-57-1-59 and ‘Red Beauty’. It is a high yielding, medium specific gravity potato with uniform skin and eye basin color, shallow eyes, uniform oval-to-flattened shape and is very attractive. The flesh is snowy white and remains white after boiling. Alaska Red keeps well in storage at 38°F (3.3°C). Scab of the tubers is the only disease that has been observed. In this subarctic region, flowers abort in the early bud stage. Red-skinned potato varieties available to Alaskan growers for the past quarter century have been unsatisfactory due to one or more of the following characteristics: low dry matter content, poor yield, uneven skin pigmentation and internal or external tuber cracking. Although consumers buy far less red than white-skinned potatoes, the demand brings Florida “reds” to Alaska as well as “reds” from other regions so that there is a year round outlet. Imported “reds” never approach the high quality of Alaskan grown “reds”. During the screening of seedlings, ‘Red Beauty’ was selected as a parental line because of its excellent conformation, skin color and eye arrangement. Low yield and shatter cracking made it unsuitable for commercial production. Alaska Red is a selection from seedlings of the cross Ak. 11-57-1-59 and Red Beauty made in 1965 and is the first red-skinned potato released from Alaska’s potato breeding. It was first evaluated by potato growers in 1972 and released in 1976 by the Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Box AE, Palmer, Alaska 99645.     

Carbon Disulphide (CS<Subscript>2</Subscript>) Promotes Sprouting and Affects the Metabolism of Harvested Minitubers Grown from True Potato Seed

Chemical agents may be used to overcome dormancy in potato tubers so as to permit early planting. In this paper, the effect of carbon disulphide on sprouting and related metabolic processes in potato tubers grown from true potato seed (TPS) was investigated. Carbon disulphide was applied to potato tubers derived from TPS, at a rate of 20 ml m^?3 container volume for 72 h. It accelerated tuber sprouting and increased tuber weight loss. It also caused an increase in the respiration rate, as well as ethylene emission from the tubers during the first 6 days after treatment. The respiration rate of carbon disulphide-treated tubers remained at a higher level than that of untreated controls for 35 days after treatment. In addition, carbon disulphide increased the concentrations of the soluble sugars sucrose and fructose, but not glucose, in the tuber tissues (buds, parenchyma). These findings suggest that carbon disulphide releases potato minitubers from dormancy and that dormancy breakage is associated with changes in tuber metabolism prior to the visible sprouting.     

Chloropicrin Soil Fumigation Reduces <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spongospora subterranea</Emphasis> Soil Inoculum Levels but Does Not Control Powdery Scab Disease on Roots and Tubers of Potato

The effect of chloropicrin fumigation on the soil populations of Spongospora subterranea and the development of powdery scab, formation of root galls and tuber yield was investigated in seven field trials conducted in Minnesota and North Dakota. Sixteen potato cultivars, with different levels of susceptibility to disease on roots and tubers, were planted in plots treated with chloropicrin at rates ranging from zero to 201.8 kg a.i. ha^?1. The amount of S. subterranea DNA in soil was determined using qPCR. Bioassays were conducted to further assess the effect of chloropicrin fumigation on root colonization by S. subterranea in two potato cultivars with contrasting disease susceptibility. In the field, chloropicrin applied at rates between 70.1 to 201.8 kg a.i. ha^?1 significantly decreased S. subterranea initial inoculum in soil but increased the amount of disease observed on roots and tubers of susceptible cultivars. The effect of increasing disease was confirmed in controlled conditions experiments. Although the amount of S. subterranea DNA in roots of bioassay plants increased with increasing chloropicrin rates, it remained similar among potato cultivars. Chloropicrin fumigation significantly increased tuber yield which in cultivars such as Shepody and Umatilla Russet were associated with the amount root galls (r = 0.30; P < 0.03). Results of these studies contradict earlier reports on the use of chloropicrin fumigation for the control of powdery scab. Factors other than inoculum level, such as environmental conditions that affect inoculum efficiency and host susceptibility, may be significant contributors to the development of powdery scab and root gall formation.     

Postemergence directed application of bentazon + metribuzin for broadleaf weed control in Russet Burbank potatoes

Field studies were conducted to evaluate potato (cv. Russet Burbank) injury and weed control with mid- or late-postemergence directed applications of bentazon at 0.56, 0.84, or 1.12 kg ha^?1 + metribuzin at 0.28 kg ha^?1 + petroleum oil concentrate (POC) at 2.3 L ha^?1. Potato injury was 5% or less when bentazon + metribuzin + POC was applied as a postemergence directed spray. Hairy nightshade, redroot pigweed, and common lambsquarters control were excellent with all rates of the bentazon + metribuzin + POC mixture tested at either application time. In weed-free trials, neither U.S. No. 1 nor total tuber yield was reduced compared to the untreated control by any rate of the bentazon + metribuzin + POC mixture applied as a directed spray. Thus, postemergence directed applications of bentazon + metribuzin + POC show excellent potential for broadleaf weed control in Russet Burbank potatoes.     

Challenges for stress physiology in potato

Conditions which lead to less than maximum yields of potato tubers are considered, with emphasis on light, water, and temperature factors. There is evidence that tuber yields of at least 90 T ha^?1 are obtainable. The most important physiological stress in most potato producing regions is water stress. Calculations suggest that 10 mm of water are lost per day through evapotranspiration from a potato crop in an area such as Idaho. This would mean that for potatoes grown in a silt soil stress would develop in less than a day unless the 10 mm were replenished. Even relatively humid regions such as the United Kingdom might need irrigation every three days to avoid yield reduction. Suggestions are made as to desirable priorities for research on stress physiology in the potato, including the need for biochemical identification of the substances involved in the control of tuberization. The need for physiological and biochemical studies of mineral nutrition and of genetic differences related to other aspects of stress tolerance is also discussed.     

Manganese nutrition improves the productivity and grain biofortification of fine grain aromatic rice in conventional and conservation production systems

Manganese (Mn) deficiency is prevalent in rice-growing regions resulting in poor paddy yield and human health. In this study, role of Mn, applied through various methods, in improving the productivity and grain biofortification of fine grain aromatic rice was evaluated. Manganese was delivered as soil application (SA) (0.5 kg ha^?1), foliar spray (FA) (0.02 M Mn), seed priming (SP) (0.1 M Mn) and seed coating (SC) (2 g Mn kg^?1 seed) in conventional (puddled transplanted flooded rice) and conservation (direct seeded aerobic rice) production systems at two different sites (Faisalabad, Sheikhupura) in Punjab, Pakistan. Manganese application, through either method, improved the grain yield and grain Mn contents of fine grain aromatic rice grown in both production systems at both sites. However, Mn application as SC and FA was the most beneficial and cost effective in improving the productivity and grain biofortification in this regard. Overall, order of improvement in grain yield was SC (3.85 t ha^?1) > FA (3.72 t ha^?1) > SP (3.61 t ha^?1) > SA (3.36 t ha^?1). Maximum net benefits and benefit–cost ratio were obtained through Mn SC in flooded field at Faisalabad, which was followed by Mn SP in direct seeded aerobic rice at the same site. However, maximum marginal rate of return was noted with Mn SC in direct seeded aerobic rice at both sites. In crux, Mn nutrition improved the productivity and grain biofortification of fine grain aromatic rice grown in both conventional and conservation production systems. However, Mn application as seed treatment (SC or SP) was the most cost effective and economical.     

Tuber growth and biomass partitioning of two potato cultivars grown under different n fertilization rates with and without irrigation

Nitrogen and water deficiencies are known to affect potato yield, but much less is known of their effect on tuber growth and biomass partitioning. The objective of this on-farm study conducted at two sites in each of three years, 1995 to 1997, was to determine the effects of supplemental irrigation and N fertilization rates on tuber growth and biomass partitioning of the cultivars Shepody and Russet Burbank. The N fertilization rates were 0,100, and 250 kg N ha^-1in 1995, and 0, 50,100, and 250 kg N ha_?1 in 1996 and 1997. The highest bulking rate observed in our study (7.3 g fresh tubers m^-2 °C^-1) can be considered near the potential bulking rate in New Brunswick. The water deficit in the absence of supplemental irrigation reduced this potential bulking rate by as much as 40%, but this reduction was much less at five of six sites and negligible at two of six sites. Nitrogen deficiency reduced the bulking rate at two of six sites. This negative effect of N deficiency on bulking rate was greater with irrigation than without irrigation at two of six sites; the tuber bulking rate with irrigation was reduced by as much as 50% with no N applied at one site. Shepody had a greater bulking rate than Russet Burbank. The tuber bulking of Russet Burbank, however, started earlier and lasted longer than that of Shepody. Water and N deficiencies increased biomass partitioning to tubers and large roots. Shepody partitioned a greater proportion of its biomass to large roots and had a greater root biomass than Russet Burbank. Our results demonstrate the ability of potatoes to modify biomass partitioning when grown under water and/or N stresses. As a result of this compensation, the reduction in tuber yield due to limited N and water stresses is minimized.     

Specific Gravity,Dry Matter and Starch Concentration of Different Potato Cultivars as Affected by Arsenic Contamination

Arsenic (As) contamination of the soil may affect the quality of potato tubers. When assessing the processing quality of potato cultivars, specific gravity (SG) is the measurement of choice for estimating dry matter (DM) and starch concentrations in the potato tubers. In this study, effects of the As concentration in the soil on quality parameters (SG, DM, starch concentration and total soluble solids (TSS)) of 11 potato cultivars in Bangladesh were investigated in an outdoor pot experiment with a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and three blocks, at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from November, 2012 to March, 2013. The results showed highly significant differences between cultivars in quality parameters, except SG. Both As levels (25 and 50 mg As kg^?1 soil) reduced the DM and starch concentration in the tubers of the potato cultivars compared to the control (0 mg As kg^?1 soil), but had no significant effects on SG and TSS. ‘Lady Rosetta’ showed the highest SG (1.093 g cm^?3), DM (23.02%) and starch concentration (16.60%). The lowest SG (1.065 g cm^?3), DM (17.04%), and starch concentration (10.96%) was found in ‘Granola’. Highest TSS (5.91) was found in ‘Jam Alu’ while ‘Meridian’ had the lowest °Brix value (3.76). Bangladeshi potato farmers will benefit from the information generated regarding potato cultivation under As affected areas.     

Effects of intraspecific competition on yield of early potato grown in mediterranean environment

Since the environment of the Mediterranean regions allows offseason production, potatoes are planted in autumn-winter and harvested in spring. During this period, potatoes are subjected to low temperatures and short day lengths which modify the growth characteristics of plants. For this reason, our analysis of competition response was conducted to better clarify the biological relationship between yield and plant density. Field trials were conducted in Sicily (south Italy), a highly representative area of early potato crop in the Mediterranean Basin, with the aim of studying effects of intraspecific competition on tuber yield and yield components. Ten planting densities (ranging from 3.0 to 8.0 plants m^?2) were studied on cv. Spunta using “tuberpieces” with a different number of eyes (one eye or all the eyes in 1996; one eye, two eyes, or all the eyes in 1997). Intraspecific competition reduced the tuber yield of individual plants, which became gradually less evident with increasing plant density. Competition affected the number of tubers per plant in the lower plant populations only (from 3.0 to 5.8 plants m^?2), whereas effects on average tuber weight were at times more marked in the higher populations (from 5.8 to 8.0 plants m^?2) and at other times in the lower densities (from 3.0 to 5.8 plants m^?2). As a consequence of increased plant density, and notwithstanding the higher intraspecific competition, the yield of tubers per unit area increased linearly. Regardless of the number of eyes per tuber-piece, when passing from the lower to the higher plant density, yield increased from 34.0 to 54.11 ha^?1 in 1996 and from 39.9 to 56.7 t ha^?1 in 1997.     

Slug damage and control of field slug (Deroceras reticulatum (Müller)) by carvone in stored potatoes

Summary After a wet autumn and harvesting under wet conditions, slugs brought into potato stores via clods and soil adhering to tubers may cause substantial damage by feeding on the tubers. A carvone sprout inhibitor, Talent^?, applied in the potato stores at a dose of 50 ml per tonne potatoes, controlled slugs within a few days. A dose of 25 ml carvone was insufficient. Using a laboratory box test, the slug (Deroceras reticulatum) affected only wounded tubers and, although slime was present on the unwounded potatoes, they were not damaged by slugs.     

Improving Yield and Quality of Processing Potato Crops Grown in the Argentinian Pampas: the Role of N,P and S and Their Impact on CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Emissions

The area grown with processing potato crops in the Argentinian Pampas has been increasing steadily since 1995. The aim of this work was to assess the effects of N, P and S upon yield and tuber quality and their impact on CO₂ emissions assessed with the Cool Farm Tool-Potato. During the spring-summer growing seasons 2008/2009 and 2009/2010, ten fertilization experiments to individually assess N, P and S effects were carried out in the southeast region of the Argentinian Pampas. Nitrogen (four N rates), phosphorus (four P rates) and sulfur (three S rates) were applied at planting and tuber initiation; at combined rates of 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha^?1, and at rates of 0, 25, 50 and 100 kg P ha^?1 and 0, 10 and 20 kg S ha^?1. N and P had a positive effect on total tuber yield, but tuber dry matter concentration (DMC) decreased at higher N rates. The fraction of marketable tubers suitable for processing into French fries increased with the addition of N, showed no variations with P fertilization, and decreased when S was applied. French fry colour, length/width (L:W) ratio and tuber defects were not affected by N, P and S fertilization. With regard to CO₂ emissions assessed with the Cool Farm Tool-Potato, results showed that the higher the N rates the higher the CO₂ emissions, but they decreased at higher yields. P and S rates did not have an impact on the CO₂ emissions, which also decreased at higher yields. Under the production system of the Pampas, N should be split between planting and tuber initiation, and intermediate P rates should be applied all at planting, in order to improve crop yield and quality and to reduce CO₂ emissions.