The potato is an undemanding tuber, but when it comes to water, it suffers from water stress and requires precision irrigation, especially during critical growth periods, which has a positive impact on the plant’s yield and quality. Let’s find out together why we should choose localised irrigation on potatoes.

Potato: drip irrigation

The potato is a solanaceous tuber that grows in the Peruvian Andes. Worldwide, this tuber occupies about 20 million hectares and China is the main producer, followed by India and Russia. In Europe, the largest producer is Poland, followed by France and the Netherlands; Italy produces only 3% of European production, 45% of which comes from Campania, Emilia-Romagna and Abruzzo.

The plant needs a mild climate for proper development.

Potato requirements: the soil

Potatoes need good soil fertilisation and it is recommended to use manure rather than fertilisers. Tillage must be deep to provide loose and draining soil, as potatoes fear stagnation which would lead to rot.

Potato requirements: planting density and ridging

Potatoes are planted in spring where there are average temperatures; where the winter is mild they can also be planted in autumn. Plants should be sown in rows at a distance of approximately 70cm from each other. Potatoes should be planted every 25-30 cm, at a depth of about 10 cm.

Sowing can be done either with the whole tuber or with pieces of it, in order to obtain more seeds: it is important that each piece has at least two ‘eyes’. In order to obtain more buds (eyes), it is required to moisten the buds every other day for about a week so that the buds can grow.

The potato plant requires little attention, but it is important to nurture it. The first ridging in takes place 15-20 days after sowing; when the first leaves sprout, it is recommended to hide them with a light ridging.

The second ridging is recommended after about a month, following preventive fertilisation. In this way the tubers are protected from the sun, which produces solanine, a poisonous substance that makes our tubers inedible.

Comparing potato irrigations

Potatoes are generally irrigated in three ways: by flowing, drip or sprinkling. The best time to water is in the morning when there are cooler temperatures to prevent diseases. It is important to irrigate during the periods of stolonization and tuberization (beginning and end of flowering).

As a result of various studies carried out on soil, variety and irrigation techniques, it was possible to optimise the yield, which is mainly influenced by irrigation, which is increasingly important given the more frequent periods of drought each year. Water stress negatively affects yields, leading to significant drops in production.

Lack of proper irrigation during key moments of tuber growth can cause a 40-60% decrease in yield; in addition, overflowing irrigation can cause possible diseases that would reduce the quality of the product due to the difficult management of the quantities of water released into the soil.

Considering these aspects, which are fundamental to obtain an interesting production result with a good return on investment, drip irrigation on potatoes is the best solution.

Localised irrigation allows us to create solutions for the future of agriculture by increasing productivity, reducing water use (by around 20% compared to other irrigation techniques) and energy in quantitative terms. Furthermore, fertigation allows us to improve our yields qualitatively as well as greatly reducing the possibility of crop disease.

Drip irrigation: our best investment

A good drip irrigation system, even if it requires a higher installation cost, guarantees us a higher yield of about 10% with reference to the potato crop (same irrigation volume in comparison with sprinkler/surface irrigation).

The recommended product is:

• 1 drip tape for each plant line, destined to the fresh market

(Every 2 line if destined to industrial/seed market)

• Spacing between drippers of 0.3m
• Flow rate of 0.6 – 1 – 1.5 l/h

Valducci has been committed for decades to offering its customers the best irrigation tools to improve farmers’ lives.

On our website you will find a TOOL to help you understand how to structure your installation depending on the crop you are planting.

You can also find on our website, drip tapes available with different characteristics and ready to be shipped.