Assessment of Different Irrigation Thresholds to Optimize the Water Use Efficiency and Yield of Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) Under Field Conditions
The potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) is highly dependent on water availability, with physiological sensitivity varying throughout its phenological cycle. In the context of increasing water scarcity and greater climate variability, identifying critical periods where water stress negat...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Rodrigo Mora-Sanhueza Ricardo Tighe-Neira Rafael López-Olivari Claudio Inostroza-Blancheteau |
| author_facet | Rodrigo Mora-Sanhueza Ricardo Tighe-Neira Rafael López-Olivari Claudio Inostroza-Blancheteau |
| author_sort | Rodrigo Mora-Sanhueza |
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| description | The potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) is highly dependent on water availability, with physiological sensitivity varying throughout its phenological cycle. In the context of increasing water scarcity and greater climate variability, identifying critical periods where water stress negatively impacts productivity and tuber quality is essential. This study evaluated the physiological response of potatoes under different deficit irrigation strategies in field conditions, and aimed to determine the irrigation reduction thresholds that optimize water use efficiency without significantly compromising yield. Five irrigation regimes were applied: well-watered (T1; irrigation was applied when the volumetric soil moisture content was close to 35% of total water available), 130% of T1 (T2, 30% more than T1), 75% of T1 (T3), 50% of T1 (T4), and 30% of T1 (T5). Key physiological parameters were monitored, including gas exchange (net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and transpiration), chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv’/Fm’, ΦPSII, electron transport rate), and photosynthetic pigment content, at three critical phenological phases: tuberization, flowering, and fruit set. The results indicate that water stress during tuberization and flowering significantly reduced photosynthetic efficiency, with decreases in stomatal conductance (gs), effective quantum efficiency of PSII (ΦPSII), and electron transport rate (ETR). In contrast, moderate irrigation reduction (75%) lowered the seasonal application of water by ~25% (≈80 mm ha<sup>−1</sup>) while maintaining commercial yield and tuber quality comparable to the fully irrigated control. Intrinsic water use efficiency increased by 18 ± 4% under this regime. These findings highlight the importance of irrigation management based on crop phenology, prioritizing water supply during the stages of higher physiological sensitivity and allowing irrigation reductions in less critical phases. In a scenario of increasing water limitations, this strategy enhances water use efficiency while ensuring the production of tubers with optimal commercial quality, promoting more sustainable agricultural management practices. |
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| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-0b1c5c3a79db408eb8e921358174a5f42025-08-20T02:23:44ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-06-011411173410.3390/plants14111734Assessment of Different Irrigation Thresholds to Optimize the Water Use Efficiency and Yield of Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) Under Field ConditionsRodrigo Mora-Sanhueza0Ricardo Tighe-Neira1Rafael López-Olivari2Claudio Inostroza-Blancheteau3Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Agropecuarias, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, P.O. Box 15-D, Temuco 4780000, ChileLaboratorio de Fisiología y Biotecnología Vegetal, Departamento de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Acuícolas, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, P.O. Box 15-D, Temuco 4780000, ChileInstituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA Carillanca, km 10 camino Cajón-Vilcún s/n, Casilla 929, Vilcún 4880000, ChileLaboratorio de Fisiología y Biotecnología Vegetal, Departamento de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Acuícolas, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, P.O. Box 15-D, Temuco 4780000, ChileThe potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) is highly dependent on water availability, with physiological sensitivity varying throughout its phenological cycle. In the context of increasing water scarcity and greater climate variability, identifying critical periods where water stress negatively impacts productivity and tuber quality is essential. This study evaluated the physiological response of potatoes under different deficit irrigation strategies in field conditions, and aimed to determine the irrigation reduction thresholds that optimize water use efficiency without significantly compromising yield. Five irrigation regimes were applied: well-watered (T1; irrigation was applied when the volumetric soil moisture content was close to 35% of total water available), 130% of T1 (T2, 30% more than T1), 75% of T1 (T3), 50% of T1 (T4), and 30% of T1 (T5). Key physiological parameters were monitored, including gas exchange (net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and transpiration), chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv’/Fm’, ΦPSII, electron transport rate), and photosynthetic pigment content, at three critical phenological phases: tuberization, flowering, and fruit set. The results indicate that water stress during tuberization and flowering significantly reduced photosynthetic efficiency, with decreases in stomatal conductance (gs), effective quantum efficiency of PSII (ΦPSII), and electron transport rate (ETR). In contrast, moderate irrigation reduction (75%) lowered the seasonal application of water by ~25% (≈80 mm ha<sup>−1</sup>) while maintaining commercial yield and tuber quality comparable to the fully irrigated control. Intrinsic water use efficiency increased by 18 ± 4% under this regime. These findings highlight the importance of irrigation management based on crop phenology, prioritizing water supply during the stages of higher physiological sensitivity and allowing irrigation reductions in less critical phases. In a scenario of increasing water limitations, this strategy enhances water use efficiency while ensuring the production of tubers with optimal commercial quality, promoting more sustainable agricultural management practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/11/1734potatodeficit irrigationWUE<sub>int</sub>photosynthesischlorophyll fluorescence |
| spellingShingle | Rodrigo Mora-Sanhueza Ricardo Tighe-Neira Rafael López-Olivari Claudio Inostroza-Blancheteau Assessment of Different Irrigation Thresholds to Optimize the Water Use Efficiency and Yield of Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) Under Field Conditions Plants potato deficit irrigation WUE<sub>int</sub> photosynthesis chlorophyll fluorescence |
| title | Assessment of Different Irrigation Thresholds to Optimize the Water Use Efficiency and Yield of Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) Under Field Conditions |
| title_full | Assessment of Different Irrigation Thresholds to Optimize the Water Use Efficiency and Yield of Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) Under Field Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Different Irrigation Thresholds to Optimize the Water Use Efficiency and Yield of Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) Under Field Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Different Irrigation Thresholds to Optimize the Water Use Efficiency and Yield of Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) Under Field Conditions |
| title_short | Assessment of Different Irrigation Thresholds to Optimize the Water Use Efficiency and Yield of Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) Under Field Conditions |
| title_sort | assessment of different irrigation thresholds to optimize the water use efficiency and yield of potato i solanum tuberosum i l under field conditions |
| topic | potato deficit irrigation WUE<sub>int</sub> photosynthesis chlorophyll fluorescence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/11/1734 |
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