Water Management in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the fourth most important food crop in the country after rice, wheat and maize. It is a leading crop in terms of protein and dry matter production per unit area and time. Potato is utilized in preparation of readymade products like fried items (Chips, French fries), dehydrated products (Flakes, granules, starch, gravy thicker, potato custard, powder etc.) and canned products. The per capita availability in India is about 17.7 kg (1/3 of the world average), which emphasizes further, increase in productivity. water is the key input in potato production and its stress drastically reduces the tuber yield even for short period at tuber formation stage. Maintenance of optimum soil moisture in the root zone is necessary to meet the crop requirement for higher yield. Potato growers are still practice the furrow irrigation, though it is less effective in water use efficiency as compared to drip or fertigation system. In this context, mulching is also one of the important cultural operations which are employed to conserve the soil moisture, regulate the soil temperature, suppress the weed growth, possess the fertility and improve the texture of the soil.