Why do potatoes need modern irrigation?

A sensible irrigation system is essential if potatoes are to be grown with high yields and good quality.H-T BAUER AQUASPIN series pivot, will bring you efficient and practical solutions, free from the impact of local harsh weather conditions.

Potatoes are a shallow root crop, which is more sensitive to soil water stress than deep root crops. In different stages of the potato growth period, water stress can affect tuber yield to different degrees, which may lead to abnormal tubers and may affect the potato quality. Therefore, proper irrigation equipment and management will help optimize potato yield per unit area and improve the quality of potato seeds and commercial potatoes.

Effects of irrigation on each stage of growth.

Efficient irrigation management should run through every stage of the potato growth, from farming to receiving. When designing irrigation systems, H.T. BAUER takes into account factors such as local microclimate, soil type and altitude. Potatoes need a relatively high level of soil moisture. For varieties with a growth period of 120-150 days, 508-698.5MM of water is required for optimal yield .In a word, the lack of irrigation water occurred in the middle and later stage of potato growth, which had a greater impact on the final yield than that in the early stage.

·Vegetative growth period: 15 to 30 days.This stage begins after sowing, when the potato eyes break dormancy and begin to germinate.

·Root growth period: 10 to 14 days.It is important to closely track soil moisture values at this stage, as this is crucial for influencing potato yield per plant.

Crop water requirement

The soil moisture needed for potato growth depends on several factors: breeding technology maturity, variety, planting density, soil moisture capacity, climate, supply to the seed market or food market.

Potatoes grow well in well-drained and breathable soil with a PH between 5 and 6.

Fertilizer requirements are higher than for other crops: 80 to 120 kg/ha of N, 50 to 80 kg/ha of P, 125 to 160 kg/ha of K.Planting depth is generally 5 to 10cm and row spacing is 0.75×0.3m.

To better develop irrigation systems, growers need to consider local ET values. ET value is the total amount of water consumed by a crop during the whole growth period. It includes: plant transpiration and inter-tree evaporation, humidity, sunshine radiation, wind, crop health and different growth stages also have an impact on ET values.

For monitoring ET value (evapotranspiration), the information mentioned as below listed is important to be referential:

1. ET estimated value from the forecasting of local weather station

2. Rainfall value of every land or a set of rainfall value of neighbor land.

3.Reasonable estimate water loss value of land

Most optimization of irrigation

Comparing to other crop, potato is more sensitive to water loss of soil. Therefore, to reach the most optimization of unit yield, the amount of water used is not more than 30% to 50% of water loss of soil. Humidity value of land should be kept at a relative high level. If planting tubers, we should arrange complete irrigation when the amount of water of soil is kept 40% of land. We should arrange complete irrigation for the tubers for processing or direct consumption when the amount of water of soil if kept 60% of land.
so have an impact on ET values.

When the water supplies is limited, the irrigation’s target is to maximize increasing unit yield, not to irrigate more farmland. To save water, the main method is to adjust velocity gauge and irrigation volume of the control box.

Water loss caused from ET value (evapotranspiration) can be compensated by irrigation every one or two days. We can have a higher production. 

Chemical injection or irrigation fertilization

Nitrogen is an important nutrient element. It is important to increase potato yield and economic benefit. If mismanagement, Nitrate nitrogen will loss to water under ground, which causes waste and pollution.

Nitrogen management under irrigation fertilization of potato, we should consider about below points:

N content

N fertilizing time

N source

Reasonable plan to usage value of nitrogen in every growing stage.

High efficient water management system

Reasonable to select the adjusting crops after harvesting

Why use pivot irrigation system？

Proper irrigation at the right time plays a vital role in increasing the yield per unit area, but at the same time, the uniformity of irrigation should be ensured. Flood irrigation is often inadequate in this regard, but the pivot irrigate system can easily achieve uniform irrigation on potato fields.

Pointer vs flood irrigation

This is the most obvious advantage of the pivot system. With the aid of a pivot system, we can easily get uniform and accurate amount of irrigation water to reduce waste. The flood irrigation enters a large amount of water at the entrance, but there may be insufficient water at the end. In addition, we can easily control the irrigation time and the amount of irrigation water, which can reduce the infiltration of water and pollution to shallow groundwater or nearby rivers.

                                   Figure 1 Irrigate by pivot system          

                                   Figure 2 Irrigate by flood irrigation

2.More labor-saving

The AQUASPIN series pivot system produced by HT-BAUER is operated automatically without the need to move the pipes manually and open or close the gates. There is no need to furrow the fields. One technician can control up to 25 systems. In addition, remote control and automatic monitoring systems are optional.

3. Higher investment recovery rate

The pointer with long service life can save users' use cost, save irrigation water and reduce energy consumption. Uniform, accurate and cost-saving chemical or fertilizer injection can also be carried out. All these together will greatly increase the output of users.

pivot system VS flood irrigation

1.  Better investment recovery rate

In comparison,the investment in per mu for the equipment and installation of pivot system is less. For example, the cost of drip irrigation system is more than twice that of pivot system for a local field of 50 hectares. Larger field area would create a bigger cost gap. But the Irrigation efficiency was about the same (95% vs 98%) for those two irrigate ways. In addition, pivot system has higher resale value than drip irrigation.

2.Fewer maintenance problems and labor costs

Compared to the drip irrigation, the maintenance of the pivot system is very simple. No clogging of drips, no filter repair. All you need is a water inlet with a grid. Rodents, farming and medium-tillage equipment can not destroy the pivot system. Even algae and chemicals are no problem.

3. More benefits and environmental friendliness

Users can remotely monitor and operate pivot systems. And the recovery rate of parts of pivot system can reach 95%.