Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of Russet Burbank yield and quality under furrow and sprinkler irrigation

  • Published:
American Potato Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A survey of growers in the Treasure Valley of western Idaho/eastern Oregon indicated that Russet Burbank potato tends to produce better quality tubers under sprinkler irrigation than with furrow irrigation. Irrigation plot studies were carried out over 3 years on 2 sites to determine if these differences were a result of commonly-used management practices or inherent in the irrigation method. With good water management, irrigation method did not affect yields, but sprinkler irrigation produced tubers with slightly better visual quality and much lower incidence of sugar ends. The reasons for better quality with sprinkler-irrigation were projected to include: 1) less water stress since sprinklers can more uniformly apply the small, frequent irrigations that potato requires; 2) better nitrogen management since furrow applications often leach nitrogen from the root zone; and 3) lower soil temperatures due to sprinkler water evaporative cooling.

Compendio

Una encuesta de productores en el Valle del Tesoro (Treasure Valley) del oeste de Idaho y este de Oregón indicó que la papa Russet Burbank tendía a producir tubérculos de mejor calidad bajo irrigación por aspersión que bajo irrigación por surco. Se llevaron a cabo estudios de irrigación en parcelas durante tres años y dos lugares para determinar si estas diferencias eran el resultado de prácticas de manejo comunmente utilizadas o inherentes al método de irrigación. Con un buen manejo del agua, el método de irrigación no afectó los rendimientos, pero la irrigación por aspersion produjo tubérculos con una calidad visual ligeramente superior y una muy menor incidencia de azúcares terminales. Las razones de una mejor calidad con la irrigación por aspersion fueron estimadads e incluyeron: 1) menor estrés al agua desde que los aspersores pueden aplicar más uniformemente las irrigaciones pequeñas y frecuentes que la papa requiere; 2) un mejor manejo del nitrógeno desde que la irrigación por surco arrastra frecuentemente, por percolación, el nitrógeno de la zona de la raíz; y 3) menores temperaturas del suelo debido al enfriamiento por evaporación del agua asperjada.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  1. Agrawal, M.C., B.S. Malik and Kirti Singh. 1975. Influence of sprinkler and surface methods of irrigation and nitrogen levels on the yield of potatoes. Haryana Agri Univ J Res 5(2):152–157.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Anon. 1972. USDA color standards for frozen french fried potatoes, 64-1. 3rd edition, Munsell Color Com., Baltimore, MD, 2 pp.

  3. Anon. 1983. Potatoes for processing; inspection institutions. USDA Agric. Marketing Service, Fruit and Veg. Div., Washington, D.C., 50 pp.

  4. Bautista, E. and W.W. Wallender. 1985. Spatial variability of infiltration in furrows. Trans of the ASAE 28(6):1846–1851, 1855.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bordovsky, D.G., C.J. Gerard and B.D. Kingston. 1977. Water use of potatoes in the Texas rolling plains. Texas Agri Exp Station Rpt #PR-3435C, College Station, TX. 14 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Davis, J.R. and D.O. Everson. 1986. Relation ofVerticillium dahliae in soil and potato tissue, irrigation method and N-fertility to Verticillium wilt of potato. Phytopathology 76:730–736.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Haddock, J.L. 1961. The influence of irrigation regime on yield and quality of potato tubers and nutritional status of the plants. Am Potato J 38:423–434.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Iritani, W.M. and L.D. Weiler. 1973. The development of translucent end tubers. Am Potato J 50(6):223–233.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Iritani, W.M. and L.D. Weiler. 1978. Influence of low fertility and vine killing on sugar development in apical and stem portions of Russet Burbank potatoes. Am Potato J 55:239–246.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Iritani, W.M. and L.D. Weiler. 1980. Sugar development in potatoes. Ext Bull 0717, Washington State Coop Ext Service, Pullman, WA, 16 p.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Jensen, L., C.C. Shock, T. Steiber and E.P. Eldredge. 1988. Comparison of sprinkler and furrow irrigation on Russet Burbank potato stem-end fry color (Abstr.) Am Potato J 65:485.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Jensen, M.E., R.D. Burman and R.G. Allen. 1990. Evapotranspiration and irrigation water requirements: a manual. Committee on irrigation water requirements of the Irrigation and Drainage Division, ASCE. ASCE manuals and reports on engineering practice #70. ASCE. NY, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kincaid, D.C., D.T. Westermann and T.J. Trout. 1993. Irrigation and soil temperature effects on Russet Burbank quality. Am Potato J 70:711–723.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Krogman, K.K. and W.E. Torfason. 1967. The influence of sprinkler vs surface methods of irrigation on yields of tomatoes, potatoes and peas. Can Agri Engr 9:54–57.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Krogman, K.K. and W.E. Torfason. 1973. Frequent low-volume sprinkler irrigation of potatoes. Am Potato J 50:133–138.

    Google Scholar 

  16. McDole, R.E., D.T. Westermann, G.D. Kleinschmidt, G.E. Kleinkopf and J.C. Ojala. 1987. Idaho Fertilizer Guide: Potatoes. CIS No. 261. Univ of Idaho Agri Exp Stn, Moscow, ID, 4 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  17. McMaster, G., G.L. Corey and K.W. Knutson. 1961. A comparison of sprinkler and surface irrigation methods on the yield, quality, and disease of potatoes. Idaho Agri Exp Sta 1961 Annual Report. Moscow, ID. p. 23–56. (also 1958, 1959, and 1960 Annual Reports).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Owings, T.R., W.M. Iritani and C.W. Nagel. 1978. Respiration rates and sugar accumulation in normal and moisture stressed Russet Burbank potatoes. Am Potato J 55:211–220.

    Google Scholar 

  19. SAS Institute. 1985. SAS/STAT, Guide for Personal Computers, 6th Ed. Statistical Analysis Institute, Cary, NC.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Shock, C.C., Z.A. Holmes, T.D. Steiber, E.P. Eldridge and P. Zhang. 1993. The effect of timed water stress on quality, total solids and reducing sugar content of potatoes. Am Potato J 70:227–241.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Trout, T.J. and B.E. Mackey. 1988. Furrow inflow and infiltration variability. Trans of the ASAE 31 (2):531–537.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Westermann, D.T., D.C. Kincaid and T.J. Trout. 1991. Management effects on N utilization by potatoes. Agron Abstr 1991:305.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Westermann, D.T. and J.R. Davis. 1992. Potato nutritional management changes and challenges into the next century. Am Potato J 69(11):753–767.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Wright, J.L. and J.C. Stark. 1990. Potato.In: Stewart, B.A. and D.R. Nielsen, eds. Irrigation of Agricultural Crops. Monograph No. 30, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, pp. 859–888.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Yamaguchi, M., H. Timm and A.R. Spurr. 1964. Effects of soil temperature on growth and nutrition of potato plants and tuberization, composition, and periderm structure of tubers. Proc Am Soc Hort Sci 84:412–423.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA-ARS Soil and Water Management Unit, 83341, Kimberly, Idaho

    D. T. Westermann (Soil Scientist)

Authors
  1. T. J. Trout
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. C. Kincaid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. T. Westermann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Trout, T.J., Kincaid, D.C. & Westermann, D.T. Comparison of Russet Burbank yield and quality under furrow and sprinkler irrigation. American Potato Journal 71, 15–28 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02848742

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02848742

Additional Key Words

Search

Navigation