Articles
SUB-IRRIGATION METHODS FOR GROWING POTATOES IN CONTAINERS UNDER A RAINSHELTER
Article number
747_14
Pages
131 – 137
Language
English
Abstract
Potatoes were grown in a polyethylene-covered rain shelter at an 850 m elevation in Hawaii.
Nutrient solution (1.5 mS) depths of 2.5 to 5 cm were maintained in growing tanks (3.7 m long x 0.6 m wide) by gravity flow to float valves.
Two Catalina potato tubers were planted in bottom-perforated polyethylene bags supported by the tank floor and 3 tubers were planted in nursery trays (17x17x5 cm) elevated 5 cm above the tank floor.
The bags and trays contained 2 litres of growing medium per potato seed tuber and these containers were subsequently hilled 3 times with dry grass.
Total sellable yields of potatoes growing in nursery trays, 11.4 and 18.9-litre bags were 5.4, 4.6 and 5.1 kg/m2 (based upon tank area), respectively.
In another experiment, no significant yield differences were observed from All Blue and Catalina potatoes which were grown similarly in 18.9-litre bags, in 10-cm slit-sided pots supported by a 2.5-cm-thick expanded polystyrene top-cover for the tank, and when potato seed tubers were wrapped in newspaper which rested on 5-cm-high nursery tray.
All 3 treatments were hilled with dry grass.
Bottom-perforated 8-litre pots containing upside-down 3-litre pots were filled with 5 litres of 3 growing media and these pots were sub-irrigated.
Total sellable yields of All Blue potatoes in peat-perlite, salty clay loam soil or decayed wood chips were 4.9, 2.1 and 5.4 kg/m2, respectively.
There was no yield advantage from planting 6 Catalina seed potatoes per bag as compared to 2 potatoes/bag.
However, sellable potato yields from bags planted with 4, 20 and 52 g (+15%) seed tubers were 5.2, 6.5 and 7.5 kg/m2, respectively.
Nutrient solution (1.5 mS) depths of 2.5 to 5 cm were maintained in growing tanks (3.7 m long x 0.6 m wide) by gravity flow to float valves.
Two Catalina potato tubers were planted in bottom-perforated polyethylene bags supported by the tank floor and 3 tubers were planted in nursery trays (17x17x5 cm) elevated 5 cm above the tank floor.
The bags and trays contained 2 litres of growing medium per potato seed tuber and these containers were subsequently hilled 3 times with dry grass.
Total sellable yields of potatoes growing in nursery trays, 11.4 and 18.9-litre bags were 5.4, 4.6 and 5.1 kg/m2 (based upon tank area), respectively.
In another experiment, no significant yield differences were observed from All Blue and Catalina potatoes which were grown similarly in 18.9-litre bags, in 10-cm slit-sided pots supported by a 2.5-cm-thick expanded polystyrene top-cover for the tank, and when potato seed tubers were wrapped in newspaper which rested on 5-cm-high nursery tray.
All 3 treatments were hilled with dry grass.
Bottom-perforated 8-litre pots containing upside-down 3-litre pots were filled with 5 litres of 3 growing media and these pots were sub-irrigated.
Total sellable yields of All Blue potatoes in peat-perlite, salty clay loam soil or decayed wood chips were 4.9, 2.1 and 5.4 kg/m2, respectively.
There was no yield advantage from planting 6 Catalina seed potatoes per bag as compared to 2 potatoes/bag.
However, sellable potato yields from bags planted with 4, 20 and 52 g (+15%) seed tubers were 5.2, 6.5 and 7.5 kg/m2, respectively.
Authors
B.A. Kratky, M.T. Yamasaki, R.N. Ishizu
Keywords
Solanum tuberosum L., cultivars, growing medium, nutrient solution, seed tuber size, soilless culture, substrate
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