Abstract
Potato production can be adversely affected by both deficient and excess water. A plant water excess (PWE) index is defined as the difference between actual evapotranspiration (AET), which is equal to the difference between rainfall and runoff, and potential evapotranspiration (PET), as computed by the Thornthwaite method, for those 5-day periods when AET exceeds PET. A growing season PWE index was equal to the accumulation of 5-day average PWE values and was calculated for each of 30 years of data. Similarly a plant water deficit (PWD) index was defined as the PET-AET for those 5-day periods when PET exceeds AET. Potato yields during the 30-year period were related to the combined effect of yearly water excess (PWE) and deficit (PWD) and can be described by the multiple regression relationship of Y = 43.558-0.74527 (PWD + PWE)+ 0.031883 (PWD × PWE). This model has a multiple r2 value that indicates 46% of the yield variation can be accounted for by the combined yearly influence of deficient and excess water. The results suggest that maximizing potato production in the humid Northeast requires a water management system that includes both supplemental irrigation and drainage.
Resumen
La productión de papa puede ser afectada adversamente tanto por la deficiencia como por el exceso de agua. Un índice del exceso de agua en la planta (PWE) se define como la diferencia entra la evapotranspiración real (AET), que es igual a la diferencia entre la precipitación y el escurrimiento, y la evapotranspiración potencial (PET), tal como se calcula por el método de Thornthwaite, para aquellos períodos de 5 días en que AET excede a PET. El índice PWE en una estación de crecimiento fue igual a la acumulación de valores promedios PWE de 5 dias y fue calculado para los datos de cada uno de los treinta años. De manera similar se definió un indice de deficiencia de agua de la planta (PWD) como PET-AET para aquellos períodos de 5 días en que PET excede AET. Los rendimientos de papa durante el periodo de 30 años fueron relacionados al efecto combinado de excesos anuales de agua (PWE) y de déficit (PWD) y puede describirse según una relación de regresión múltiple de Y = 43.558-0.74527 (PWD + PWE)+ 0.031883 (PWD×PWE). Este modelo tiene un valor r2 múltiple que indica que 46% de la variación del rendimiento puede atribuirse a la influencia anual combinada del agua en déficit y en exceso. Los resultados sugieron que para maximizar la producción de papa en al húmedo Nor-este se requiere un sistema de manejo de agua que incluya tanto riego suplementario como drenaje.
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Contribution from the New England Plant, Soil and Water Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, and the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469.
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Benoit, G.R., Grant, W.J. Excess and deficient water stress effects on 30 years of Aroostook County potato yields. American Potato Journal 62, 49–55 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02903462
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02903462