Influence of irrigation regimes on growth and yield of potato cv. Spunta

Summary The effect of furrow and drip irrigation giving 0, 33, 66, 100 and 133% of the maximum evapotranspiration (ETM) was studied on leaf transpiration, stomatal resistance, tuber growth, yield and yield response of cv. Spunta. The research was carried out in Sicily in 1988 and 1989 on early potato crops grown during the winter/spring cycle. Increased water supply increased leaf transpiration, plant fresh weight, tuber growth rate, yield and earliness, and decreased stomatal resistance and tuber dry weight. A higher yield response was obtained at the lower water regimes (ETM of 33 and 66%). There were no significant differences between the two methods of irrigation.