IRRIGATION SCHEDULING AND TECHNIQUES IN POTATO

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IMPORTANCE

Water is the key input in crop production and plants take nutrients

from the soil in the medium through water.

It also helps maintaining the plant temperature and enables the plants to face the varied climatic conditions smoothly. Irrigation schedule should be such that neither plant faces any excessive water stress nor there is excess water.

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EFFICIENT IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT

Time of application

Methods of application
Depth of water per irrigation

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Management of soil moisture is essential for optimum yield under assured irrigation. Water from snow melt, rivers and natural springs are used for

irrigation by gravitational system.

High wind velocity and low atmospheric humidity lead to more evapotranspiration increases the water requirement of potato crop.

Mulching saved about 30% water to the crop.

Sandy soils required comparatively 20-30% higher number of irrigations Pre-planting irrigation is beneficial for uniform emergence and also increase the duration of first irrigation after planting.

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 Normally, first irrigation 20-25 days after planting and further at 12-20 days interval depending upon the type of soil and weather conditions.

During the irrigation, water should not be reach more than 2/3 height
of the ridges. Potato is relatively sensitive to soil water deficits. To get optimum yields the total available soil water should not be < 30-50%.

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 Stolonization and tuber initiation and yield formation are more sensitive stages for irrigation than ripening and vegetative periods.

In general, water deficits in the middle to late part of the growing period reduce yield more than in the early part.

However, varieties vary in their sensitivity to water deficit.

Yields of varieties with few tubers may be somewhat less sensitive to water deficit than those with many tubers.

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To maximize yield, the soil should be maintained at relatively high moisture content.

Frequent irrigation with relatively cold water may decrease the soil temperature below optimum value of 15 to 18C for tuber formation.

Soil aeration problems can sometimes occur in wet, heavy soils.

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 Since the potato is a relatively sensitive crop in terms of both yield and quality, under conditions of limited water supply the available supply should preferably be directed towards maximizing yield per hectare rather than spreading the limited water over a larger area.

Savings in water can be made mainly through improved timing and depth of irrigation application

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IRRIGATION SCHEDULING

Water management practices vary from region to region. Water requirement of Potato ranges from 400-600 mm depending upon the length of growing season. Normally, the early season crop grown in Punjab has it growth Cycle of 110-120 days, coinciding much its latter growth (tuber

development) with falling temperature regime of low evaporability and its seasonal water needs are moderate.

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For more yield, apply irrigation immediately after planting which leads to proper germination and optimum population. The Potato crop in Punjab should be irrigated at 7-10 days interval The last irrigation should be with-held 10-15 days before harvest to allow the tubers to harden their skin.

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Light and frequent irrigation is applied as and when needed in Sikkim. Potato should be irrigated mainly during 3 stages:

a) 20-25 days after planting (stolon formation stage); b) 45-50 days after planting (stolon development and tuber formation stage); and c) 65 days after planting (tuber development stage).

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METHOD OF IRRIGATION
Most common irrigation methods for potato are furrow and sprinkler methods

Potato responds better for frequent irrigation because of shallow

root system and requires low soil water depletion. E.x. very high yields are obtained with the mechanized sprinkler

systems where evapo- transpiration losses are replenished each or

every two days. Under assured irrigation. Surface (furrow) irrigation systems is

widely adopted and irrigation scheduling is based on the time

interval approach.

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 A fixed depth of water (about 40-50 mm) is applied at each irrigation. Sprinkler and drip irrigation systems have been evaluated and compared with the standard furrow irrigation in Indian plains. The drip system was most economical followed by sprinkler system.

In hills, several methods of water harvesting have been developed.

These are used to conserve snow melt water and runoff water during rainy seasons to meet the water requirements during dry period.

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