1Deir Alla Agricultural Research Station National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension (NCARE), Baq'a, 19381, Jordan
2Department of Nutrition and Food Processing, Al-Huson University College, Al Balqa Applied University, Irbid, Jordan
3Department of Nutrition and Food Processing, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, 19117, Jordan
4Department of Applied Science, Ajloun University College, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, 19117, Jordan
5Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, 19117, Jordan
6Medical Support Department Faculty of Karak College, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, 19117, Jordan
*e-mail: Jaltabbal@bau.edu.jo
Online published on 18 July, 2018.
This study investigated the effects of different irrigation regimes on the yield, water use efficiency and quality of potato [Solanum tuberosum (L.) cv. Spunta] grown at the experimental field of Deir Alla Agricultural Research Station, Jordan during 2012–13 and 2013–14 growing seasons. Five different drip irrigation regimes were compared: 50% (I50), 75% (I75), 100% (I100) and 125% (I125) of crop evapotranspiration assessed according to the class A pan equation (which equated to 184, 274, 366 and 458 mm, respectively), and farmer irrigation (506 mm). The results indicated that irrigation to 100% of evapotranspiration (I100) was the optimum regime for maximizing potato production. The specific gravity and water use efficiency, as well as most nutritional contents of potato decreased with increasing amounts of water, and the maximum ash content was achieved with I100. Thus, use of the I100 regime would improve water use efficiency in potato crops compared with farmer irrigation levels that are currently used, allowing significant reductions in water use while maintaining production levels.
Irrigation, potato, quality, yield
