A scoping review of irrigation scheduling methods in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production

Abstract

Potatoes benefit from irrigation management because of the significant effect of irrigation on both yield and quality. Precise irrigation of potatoes is challenging due to multiple factors, including their shallow root zone, daily evapotranspiration (ET) rates, and sensitivity to soil moisture fluctuations. These factors make it difficult to maintain optimal water availability without causing stress or oversaturation. Insufficient irrigation can result in yield loss ranging up to 50%, as well as leading to misshapen tubers, vascular necrosis, or hollow heart defects, making them non-marketable. Irrigation scheduling is an effective strategy to manage crop water needs throughout the growing season. Over the years, researchers have evaluated advanced irrigation scheduling utilizing sensor technology or models in potato production. This paper focuses on a review of advanced irrigation scheduling methods–soil based, ET based, and plant based–highlighting their effectiveness on water productivity and yield quality for potato production. With recommendations varying by scheduling methods, soil-based approaches suggest maintaining 80–90% field capacity (FC) to optimize yields and enhance water productivity. ET-based methods recommend irrigating at 80–100% of crop ET, while plant-based scheduling utilizing the crop water stress index (CWSI) advises initiating irrigation at values less than 0.4. Moreover, the sustainability of water resources in agriculture has been a concern due to the decline in groundwater levels in several agricultural regions. Thus, the review emphasizes the importance of irrigation scheduling in enhancing water productivity and discusses the contribution of irrigation scheduling to water sustainability in potato production.