Comparison of different irrigation methods in terms of water use and yield in potato farming

Abstract

In this study, the effects of different irrigation methods on yield and yield components of potato and water use of methods were investigated. The methods which were used in this study were sprinkler, furrow and drip irrigation. The study was conducted in Konya Şeker Corporation’s experimental fields during the growth season of 2008 and 2009 in AlakovaKonya. The highest seasonal vapotranspiration through potato growth seasons was obtained from sprinkler irrigated plots with 670.23 mm when considering two years averages. The seasonal evapotranspirations were calculated as 618.30 mm and 572.17 mm in furrow irrigation and drip irrigation methods, respectively. Seasonal vapotranspirations were found 17.1% and 8.1% higher in sprinkler irrigation and furrow irrigation regarding to drip irrigation, respectively. It was found no significant differences on total tuber yield, number of tuber per plant, tuber diameter, tuber size, tuber dry mater ratio, tuber starch ratio and tuber protein ratio between sprinkler, furrow and drip irrigation methods statistically. But it was found significant relations between individual tuber weight, marketable tuber yield and irrigation methods at 5% level. Marketable tuber yield was found 11.5% and 5.0% higher in sprinkler and furrow irrigation than drip irrigation, respectively. The highest water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) were obtained with drip irrigation plots while the lowest were obtained from sprinkler irrigation plots for both years. Mean WUE and IWUE was calculated as 8.32 kg/m³ and 7.51 kg/m³ in drip irrigation and 6.09 kg/m³ and 5.76 kg/m³ in sprinkler irrigation, respectively.