Drip Irrigation trial at the World Potato Congress 2000 in Holland

Trail conducted by Daily Drip.

Daily Drip for all your Drip Irrigation advice - including T-Tape

Phone +31 653924199 Email; Janknegt@introweb.nl

Fertigated Santana potatoes in comparison with un-irrigated, monitored with an EnviroSCAN®

The year 2000 has been ‘wet’ in Holland and one would expect a limited response from applying extra water, but as can be seen from the following graphs there is considerable difference in water use . The trial was planted after a very wet period and hence soil were not good.

These two pictures shows the difficulty of wetting this soil and getting it into optimum condition. It cannot be done easily with rainguns while ‘drip’ is ideal.

			Separate graph in unirrigated potato ridge. Note how little activity is occuring.
			This is the data from the fertigated site. Note the difference in steepness of the slopes (water use). It is only after the 1st August that the crop begins to use water at 50cm.
			Combined grph of the top 50cm in the 'dry' plot. Compare the shape and figures witht the next fertigated graph. It goes a long way to explain why there was a 20%+ increase in yield and a corresponding improvement in qulaity.
			Note how much wetter the soil was with the fertigation and the steepness of the slope (water use) when the soil was much wetter and the plant could get what it needed.
Between the 1st and 10th August the fertigated crop used 30mm, while the unfertigated only used 9mm. This 'loss' of water use could equate to 5 tons per hectare loss of yield.
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These two photos show the difference between the fertigated and un-fertigated plots.

Note the different shape and size. No doubt there will be an improvement in quality as well - we will let you know later in the season.

But, there was at least a 20% yield increase, even in a wet year

Benefits of drip irrigation in potatoes:

1. 100% leaf cover reached quicker.

2. Increased tuber numbers

3. Control ‘scab’

4. ‘Exact’ application of fertiliser is possible.

5. Better uniformity of tubers.

6. Higher yields Better storage quality

7. Better cooking quality.

8. May be possible to reduce water use.

9.Reduction in fertiliser use and wastage.

Further details of this report coming any day now, but even in 'wet' year there was a 20% increase in yield and an improvement in quality.

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