Effect of projected climate scenarios on the yields of potato crop and agronomic adaptation options as evaluated by crop growth model

Potato is the most important non-cereal crop in the world and the most prominent winter season crop in India. Growth and yield of potato crop is very much sensitive to higher temperatures and the moisture stress. Hence, the anticipated increase of temperature due to global warming and climatic variability will have anadverse impact on potato production. Keeping this in view, a research work was carried out with the objectives to assess the impact of climate change on potato production and evaluating agronomic adaptation options through a crop growth simulation model (CGSM). Field experiments were carried out to prepare the minimum dataset for calibration and validation of one CGSM, namely InfoCrop. After validation, the model was used to predict the future tuber yield of ten selected stations situated under different agroclimatic regions of the State. In the future scenario 2050, the simulated yield for mid November planted crop likely to be about 11% less than the present level of mean yield. If the crop is planted in December, the percentage of yield reduction may be around 25%.The projected yield reduction, for the stations of higher latitude, is found to be negligible. Three possible agronomic adaptation options, viz., adjustment of date of planting, increase of seed rate and varying sprout length of seed tubers, have been tried as adaptation strategies to combat the adverse effects of climate change. It is concluded that the mid-November planting and longer sprout length will be the best adaptation option. However, the enhanced seed rate is not a viable adaptation option.

The economic of production of vegetable crops grown in northern Omdurman, Khartoum State Sudan

The economic of production of vegetable crops grown in northern Omdurman, Khartoum State Sudan This study was carried out to estimate the profitability in terms of gross margins ol'the main vegetable crops grown in the area. Sampled farmers were randomly selected through a field survey during 2006/2007 agricultural season, and the collected data was subjected to descriptive statistics and gross margin analysis, in addition to the estimation of the benefit cost ratio. The results revealed that the vegetable crops under investigation arc profitable to farmers. Tomato crop scored the highest gross margin, followed by onion and lastly potato crop. Agricultural operation was the highest cost item for onion and tomato crops, while the agricultural inputs recorded the highest item for potato crop

Plant Growth and Stomatal Responses of Potato Cultivars under High Temperature Stress

Background: The higher temperatures resulted due to global warming might bring about changed geographical distribution of crops and even in the season. In other words, heat stress is likely to be an eventual challenge for crop production in general and for potatoes in particular. Thus, imparting heat tolerance in potato cultivars is of utmost importance. Methods: The experiment was conducted in pots and the ambient temperature was approximately 33±0.5oC which constitutes heat stress for potato crop. Potato cultivars namely Kufri Ashoka (relatively heat susceptible) and Kufri Surya (relatively heat tolerant), cultivars, were used in this experiment. The observations were made on the fourth leaf from the top of the mother shoot in potted plants which was fully expanded; data collected were subjected to statistical analysis by using analysis of variance under completely randomized design. Result: Data recorded on different morphological and stomatal attributes indicate that there was significant difference between susceptible and tolerant cultivars of potato wherein Kufri Surya showed better shoot/root ratio, stomatal density as well as stomata index as compared to Kufri Ashoka.

Potassium-Induced Drought Tolerance of Potato by Improving Morpho-Physiological and Biochemical Attributes

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is the third and fourth most important tuberous crop in terms of human consumption and production, respectively. However, its growth and development are affected by drought, which is an emerging threat to agriculture especially in arid and semiarid areas. Potassium (K) is a well-known macronutrient that improves the performance of crops under drought. Therefore, the present study was enacted with the aim of evaluating the impact of K fertilizer on potato crop growth, productivity, and drought tolerance under full root irrigation (FRI) and partial root irrigation (PRI) conditions. Two potato cultivars (Lady Rosetta and Hermes) were grown under normal field conditions followed by FRI and PRI applications. Potassium sulfate was applied in three doses (T0 = 50 kg·ha−1, T1 = 75 kg·ha−1, and T2 = 100 kg·ha−1). The experiment was laid out under randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement. The main plot was allocated to irrigation, along with a subplot to potassium and a sub-subplot to potato cultivars. The results indicated that K application significantly improved the plant growth and yield by exhibiting better performance in morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes under FRI and PRI conditions; however, a more remarkable change was noticed under PRI compared with FRI. K application alleviated drought stress regardless of cultivars. This study suggests that K application at the rate of 100 kg·ha−1 is an effective approach for inducing drought tolerance in potato crops.

Estimating potato crop wetness duration from agrometeorological data

Hourly meteorological observations over a potato crop field were used to validate a biophysical model and different thresholds of relative humidity (RH) to simulate the onset. cessation and total wetness duration (WD). The model showed the capability to simulate multiple wet and dry conditions as well as prolonged moist conditions with a mean absolute error of less than an hour. The deviation between measured and estimated onset and total WD was more pronounced when only RH was used. However, under the prevailing agroclimatic conditions of potato growing regions in India, 80% RH threshold may adequately be accurate to estimate WD for many weather-based disease management advisories.

Nitrogen Fertilization Guidelines for Potato Production in Florida

This new 11-page publication focuses on the nitrogen (N) fertilizer best management practices (BMP) for potato crop in Florida. The aim is to provide management strategies that comply with statewide BMP guidelines to maximize yield and economic return while minimizing N losses to the environment. Written by Lincoln Zotarelli, Tara Wade, Gary K. England, and Christian T. Christensen and published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1429

Flowering capacity and botanical seed production of sweet potato genotypes

ABSTRACT The identification of genotypes with greater capacity for flowering and seed production is crucial for greater efficiency in the genetic improvement of the sweet potato crop. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the flowering capacity and the production of botanical seeds in sweet potato genotypes. The work was carried out in the municipality of Lavras, located in the southern region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Twenty-two sweet potato genotypes belonging to the germplasm bank of the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) were evaluated. The characteristics evaluated were the flowering period (days), the number of viable seeds, the total weight of viable seeds, the weight of 1000 seeds and the percentage of germination. The obtained data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, study of correlations and analysis of main components. The sweet potato genotypes evaluated showed a high capacity for flowering and production of botanical seeds. Flowering usually starts 125 days after planting and extends on average for 72 days. Considering future recombination to promote flowering capacity, seed production and greater germination, genotypes BD-05, BD-26 and BD-44 should be prioritized.