Abstract

Soil compaction due to heavy machinery and intensive cultivation causing yield reduction in potato is an increasing problem worldwide today. In this experiment inter-row subsoiling at the depth of 55 cm has been tested as a strategy to loosen the soil after planting and thereby increase the yield in starch potato production. The effects of subsoiling were tested in three different irrigation regimes. The results show that subsoiling can increase the starch potato yield significantly in sandy soils where a compacted plough pan is present. This holds true for all years and all cultivars tested. The effect was greater in dry years and decreased with increasing irrigation intensity. However, the starch content of the tubers was not affected by subsoiling but the total starch yield from the field increased with 0.86 ton/ha to 1.37 ton/ha, depending on year, cultivar and irrigation strategy.

Keywords

subsoiling; starch potato; water management; yield; djupluckring; stärkelsepotatis; bevattning; skörd

Published in

Landskap, trädgård, jordbruk : rapportserie
2010, number: 2010:40
ISBN: 978-91-86373-47-4
Publisher: Department of Agrosystems, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Authors' information