Effects of Irrigation Management on Chipping Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Production in the Upper Midwest of the U.S.

Irrigation is required for profitable commercial potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production. Excessive or deficit soil water availability during the growing season can have adverse effects on tuber yield, quality, and storability. A field study was conducted 2018 2019 storage seasons in Central Wisconsin, a region U.S. with high volume of production, to evaluate impacts different irrigation rates three chipping varieties, Hodag, Lamoka, Snowden. The treatments were implemented late-tuber bulking maturation growth stages, consisted at 125%, 100%, 75%, 50% crop evapotranspiration (ET). before treatment period 100%ET all plots. With industry standard practice being 100%ET, other designated as over-irrigation irrigation. impact these watering yield quality evaluated harvest, assessed by measuring chip fry color sugar concentrations 0, 4, 8 months storage. It found that compared practice, 125%ET when tubers reached late resulted no significant increase total marketable harvest storage, well reduced efficiency (IE) water-use (WUE). This also increased nitrate leaching potential both years. In comparison, 75%ET even 50%ET had growth, could IE WUE one two years, showed drainage. rate hollow heart incidence, specific gravity 8-month period. suggested not beneficial production Wisconsin U.S., stages potentially result more sustainable use while penalizing storability potatoes.