Photosynthetic Performance of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum) Subject to Water Deficit Regulated with Mulched Drip Irrigation

摘要

An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of mulched drip irrigation under water deficit on leaf area index (LAI), leaf area duration (LAD), dry matter (DM) and relative growth rate (RGR) of potato in an arid environment. Five water deficit treatments and a full irrigation control were established to subject potato to various levels of soil water deficit at different crop growth stages. The result indicated that potato LAI and LAD at all the determined growth stages were not reduced under water deficit regulation. Additionally, the DM and RGR at starch accumulation were not significantly decreased under water deficit either. Therefore, medium soil water deficit regulated at 55﹪～65﹪ of field capacity with mulched drip irrigation at potato tuber initiation could be used to effectively improve leaf area index, leaf area duration, dry matter and relative growth rate of plants.