Water Productivity and Potato Cultivation
Date
2003
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Abstract
This chapter provides a review of work done at the International Potato Center (CIP) on improving water productivity in potato. Generally, potato is shallow-rooted and sensitive to even mild water deficits. Most of CIP’s work related to water productivity was done in the 1980s as part of a research programme to develop improved germplasm and agronomic practices for potato production in warm tropical environments. Heat-tolerant as well as drought-tolerant materials were selected and tested under a range of warm climates, with studies conducted to quantify evapotranspiration, stomatal conductance, leaf water potential, soil water dynamics and root growth. These same parameters were also determined in agronomic field experiments designed to quantify the effects of mulching, intercropping and close plant spacing on yield and water-use efficiency. Although needed, similar detailed studies on water-productivity components have yet to be done for potato grown more commonly in cooler environments at high altitudes in the tropics.
Description
Keywords
Potatoes, Water
Citation
Bowen, W.T. 2003. “Water Productivity and Potato Cultivation,” IN Water Productivity in Agriculture: Limits and Opportunities for Improvement, pp. 229-238, J.W. Kline, R. Barker and D. Molden (Eds.), CAB International.