Skip to main content

Principles of agronomy and their application in the potato industry

  • Chapter
The Potato Crop

Part of the book series: World Crop Series ((WOCS))

Abstract

This chapter reviews the extent of progress since the first edition of this book in the strength of understanding of the principles governing yield formation in the potato crop. The extent to which this knowledge has been used in the industry is considered and the chapter ends with a critical discussion of essential future requirements for the continuation of a profitable industry. The objectives of this chapter are, therefore, not materially different from those of the first edition and relate to:

  1. 1.

    the achievement of the greatest proportion of the potential yield in all crops, irrespective of outlet;

  2. 2.

    evaluation and exploitation of available varieties and provision of appropriate criteria for the breeding of improved varieties;

  3. 3.

    matching field husbandry to storage conditions to ensure the highest yield and quality out of storage.

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

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, E.J. and O’Brien, P.J. (1985) Water use, irrigation need and the yield of potato varieties. United Kingdom Irrigation Assoc. Conference. Irrigating Potatoes. Silsoe College, Bedford, 19–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, E.J. and Scott, R.K. (1980) An analysis of growth of the potato crop. J. Agric. Sci., Camb., 94, 583–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, E.J., O’Brien, P.J. and Firman, D.M. (1991) An evaluation of small seed for ware potato production. J. Agric. Sci., Camb. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Asfary, A.F., Wild, A. and Harris, P.M. (1983) Growth, mineral nutrition and water use by potato crops. J. Agric. Sci., Camb., 100, 87–101.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, R.J. (1990) Irrigated Crops and their Management, Farming Press, Ipswich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, R.J. and Minhinick, R. (1989) Irrigation News, United Kingdom Irrigation Association, No. 15, pp. 19–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bean, J.N., Allen, E.J. and O’Brien, P.J. (1991) Effects of floating plastic mulches on soil and air temperatures and growth and yield of several potato varieties J. Agric. Sci., Camb. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Biscoe, P.V. and Gallagher, J.N.G. (1977) Weather, dry matter production and yield, in Environmental Effects on Crop Physiology (eds J.J. Landsberg and C.V. Cutting), Academic Press, London, pp. 75–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biscoe, P.V., Scott, R.K. and Monteith, J.L. (1975) Barley and its environment III. Carbon budget of the stand. J. App. Ecology, 12, 269–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boone, F.R., Bouma, J. and De Smet, L.A.H. (1978) A case study on the effect of soil compaction on potato growth in a loamy sand soil. 1. Physical measurements and rooting patterns. Neth. J. Agric. Sci., 26, 405–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, K.F., Messern, A.B., Dunham, R.J. and Biscoe, P.V. (1987) Effect of drought on growth and water use of sugar beet. J. Agric. Sci., Camb., 109, 421–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, M.D. (1972) The lower limit of soil water potential for potato growth. Ph.D. Thesis, Washington State University, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chailakhyan, M.Kh., Yanina, L.J., Devedzhyan, A.G. and Lotova, G.N. (1981) Photoperiodism and tuber formation in grafting tobacco onto potato. Doklady Akademii Nauk. SSSR, 257, 1276–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colenso, J.M. (1989) Effects of potato harvesting practices on skin abrasion and processing quality. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, H.F. and Dent, D.L. (1990) Modelling soil water supply to crops. Catena, 17, 25–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Day, W., Legg, B.J., French, B.K., Johnston, A.E., Lawlor, D.W. and Jeffers, N. de C. (1978) A drought experiment using mobile shelters: the effect of drought on barley yield, water use and nutrient uptake. J. Agric. Sci., Camb., 91, 599–623.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunham, R.J. (1988) Irrigation of sugar beet: the main effect. British Sugar Beet Review, 56(3), 34–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, E. and Grant, W.J. (1973) Water stress relations of the potato plant under field conditions. Agron. J., 65, 400–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, S.A. (1975) Maximum potato yield in the United Kingdom. Outlook on Agriculture, 8, 184–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, S.A. and Hield, J.R.A. (1981) The achievement of very high yields of potatoes in the UK. J. Agric. Sci. Camb., 97, 391–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ewing, E.E. (1990) Induction of tuberization in potato, in The Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Potato (eds M.E. Vadya and W.D. Park), C.A.B. International, Wallingford, Chap. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Firman, D.M. (1987) Leaf growth and senescence of the potato. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Firman, D.M. (1990) Cambridge University Potato Growers Research Association. Annual Report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Firman, D.M. and Allen, E.J. (1988) Field measurements of the photosynthetic rate of potatoes grown with different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. J. Agric. Sci., Camb. 111, 85–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Firman, D.M., O’Brien, P.J. and Allen, E.J. (1991a) Flower initiation in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) sprouts and stems in relation to number of nodes and tuber initiation. J. Agric. Sci., Camb. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Firman, D.M., O’Brien, P.J. and Allen, E.J. (1991b) Predicting the emergence of potato sprouts. J. Agric. Sci., Camb. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowler, J.H. (1988) Effect of plant arrangement and density on growth, development and yield of two potato varieties. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glauert, A.W. (1983) Carbon exchange of the sugar beet crop through a season, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Nottingham.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood, D.J., Neeteson, J.J. and Draycot, Ann (1985) Response of potatoes to N fertilizer: Quantitative relations for components of growth. Plant and Soil, 85, 163–83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, P.M. (1991) Mineral nutrition, in The Potaio Crop’, The scientific basis for improvement (ed. P.M. Harris), Chapman & Hall, London, pp. 00–00.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogge, M.C. (1989) Effects of site, season and husbandry on yield and processing quality of the potato variety Pentland Dell. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogge, M.C, Stalham, M.A. and Allen, E.J. (1991) Effects of field treatments on processing quality of Record and Pentland Dell potatoes during storage. J. Agric. Sci., Camb. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ifenkwe, O.P. (1975) Effects of row width and plant density on growth and development of two maincrop potato varieties. Ph.D. Thesis, University College of Wales, Aberstwyth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ivins, J.D. and Bremner, P.M. (1965) Growth, development and yield in the potato. Outlook on Agriculture, 4, 211–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, P. and Gillison, T.C. (1991). Get the best from plastic. Potato Review, March/April 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, J.L. and Allen, E.J. (1983) Effects of date of planting on plant emergence leaf growth and yield on contrasting potato varieties. J. Agric. Sci., Camb., 101, 81–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lapwood, D.H. and Hering, T.F. (1968) Infection of potato tubers by common scab (Streptomyces scabies) during brief periods when the soil is drying. European Potato J., 11, 177–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lesczynski, D.B. and Tanner, C.B. (1976) Seasonal variation of root distribution of irrigated field-rown Russet Burbank potatoes. Am. Potato J., 53, 69–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, C., Vernay, R. and Paynot, N. (1982) Physiologie vegetale photoperiodisme, tuberisation, floraison et phenolamides. Comptes Rendus de l’Academie des Sciences, Paris, 295, 565–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Millard, P. and Marshall, B. (1986) Growth, nitrogen uptake and partitioning within the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crop, in relation to nitrogen application. J. Agric. Sci., Camb., 107, 421–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1967) Potential Transpiration, Technical Bulletin 16, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, London, HMSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1984) Fertilizer recommendations 1985–1986 Reference book 209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monteith, J.L. (1977) Climate and the efficiency of crop production in Britain. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 281, 277–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nield, J.R.A. (1977) The potato blueprint reviewed. Arable Farmer, May, 17–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ojala, J.C., Stark, J.C. and Kleinkopf, G.E. (1990) Influence of irrigation and nitrogen management on potato yield and quality. Am. Potato J., 67, 29–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, C.J., Carr, M.K.V., Jarvis, N.J., Evans, M.T.B, and Lee, V.H. (1988) Effects of subsoil loosening and irrigation on soil physical properties, root distribution and water uptake of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). Soil & Tillage Research, 13, 267–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Penman, H.L. (1948) Natural evaporation from open water, bare soil and grass. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: Series A, 193, 120–45.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Penman, H.L. (1970) Woburn irrigation, 1960–8. iv. Design and interpretation vi. Results for rotation crops. J. Agric. Sci., Camb., 75, 69–73; 89–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Potato Marketing Board (1979) Sutton Bridge Annual Review for 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Potato Marketing Board (1990) Historical data summary from 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sale, P.J.M. (1973) Productivity of vegetable crops in a region of high solar input I. Growth and development of the potato (Solanum tuberosum L). Aust. J. Agric. Res., 24, 733–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schepers, A. and Reestman, A.J. (1975) Mature plant resistance in relation to some morphological characteristics of the potato plant. Proc. 6th Trien. Conf. Eur. Ass. Potato Res. Wageningen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, R.K. and Jaggard, K.W. (1985) The effects of pests and diseases on growth and yield of Sugar Beet. Proceedings of the 48th winter congress. Institute International de recherches, Betteravieries, pp. 153–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, R.K. and Wilcockson, S.J. (1978) Application of physiological and agronomic principles to the development of the potato industry, in The Potato Crop; The scientific basis for improvement (ed. P.M. Harris), Chapman & Hall, London, pp. 754.

    Google Scholar 

  • Squire, G.R. (1990) The Physiology of Tropical Crop Production, C.A.B., Wallingford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stalham, M.A. (1989) Growth and water use of the potato variety Record on contrasting sites. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, D.A. (1982) The effects of subsoil loosening and deep incorporation of nutrients on yield of broad beans, cabbage, leek, potatoes and red beet. J. Agric. Sci., Camb., 98, 287–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sylvester-Bradley, R., Stokes, D.T., Scott, R.K. and Willington, V.B.A. (1990) A physiological analysis of the diminishing responses of winter wheat to applied nitrogen. 2. Evidence. Aspects of Applied Biology, 25, Cereal Quality II.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trebejo, I. and Midmore, D.J. (1990) Effect of water stress on potato growth, yield and water use in a hot and a cool tropical climate. J. Agric. Sci. Camb., 114, 321–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Loon, C.D. and Bouma, J. (1978) A case study of the effect of soil compaction on potato growth in a loamy sand soil 2. Potato plant responses. Netherlands J. Agric. Sci., 26, 421–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, D.J. (1952) The physiological basis of variation in yield. Advances in Agronomy, 4, 101–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, D.J, (1968) A prospect of crop physiology. Annals of Applied Biology, 62, 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weaver, J.E. (1926) Root Development of Field Crops, McGraw-Hill, New York and London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welbank, P.J., Gibb, M.J., Taylor, P.J. and Williams, E.D. (1974) Root growth of cereal crops. Rothamstead Experimental Station, Report for 1973, part 2, 26–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilcockson, S.J., Allen, E.J., Scott, R.K. and Wurr, D.C.E. (1985) Effects of crop husbandry and growing conditions on storage losses of Pentland Crown potatoes. J. Agric. Sci., Camb., 105, 413–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe, D.W., Fereres, E. and Voss, R.E. (1983) Growth and yield response of two potato cultivars to various levels of applied water. Irrigation Science, 3, 211–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wurr, D.C.E., Fellows, Jane, R. and Allen, E.J. (1991) Determination of optimum tuber planting density in the potato varieties Pentland Squire, Cara, Estima, Maris Piper, and King Edward. J. Agric. Sci., Camb. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Allen, E.J., Scott, R.K. (1992). Principles of agronomy and their application in the potato industry. In: Harris, P.M. (eds) The Potato Crop. World Crop Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2340-2_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2340-2_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5034-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-2340-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics