Improving potato crop water-use efficiency by developing a deeper understanding of cultivars

Description

More and more potato farmland is being equipped for irrigation. The water volume utilized is considerable and is placing considerable strain on this resource.

Water supply can be a major challenge for some growers and a source of conflict (coexistence). So, an understanding of the water requirements of specific cultivars at different stages of their development is very useful.

The selection of a cultivar should be an essential element in any sound irrigation management strategy. This project aims to optimize water use in potato farming. To this end, eight cultivars will be subject to cropping systems with or without a sprinkler irrigation system.

Tests will be conducted at Ferme Victorin Drolet in the Portneuf area.

Objective(s)

• Understand the water requirements of specific potato cultivars at different stages of development by
• establishing a cultivar ranking based on the potential risk for water stress;
• improving the effectiveness of irrigation management tools;
• anticipating more intense periods of water extraction, and, hence, nutrient loss; and
• assessing the water supply needs of cultivars over an entire season.