Seed piece spacing influences yield, tuber size distribution, stem and tuber density, and net returns of three processing potato cultivars.

摘要

In field trials in 1988-89 at Aberdeen and Kimberly, Idaho, USA, seed tubers of potatoes cv. Russet Burbank, Frontier Russet and Ranger Russet were planted at intrarow spacings of 8, 15, 23, 31, 46, 61, 76 or 91 cm, with a row spacing of 90 cm. All3 cultivars achieved highest total yields at the narrowest spacing. Greatest marketable (US No.1 grade) and midsize (226-452 g) yields were obtained with spacings between 15 and 31 cm, depending on the cultivar. Size distribution shifted from a predominance of small tubers at narrow spacings to a predominance of large tubers at wide spacings, and the rate of shift was cultivar-dependent. Russet Burbank showed a broad range of optimal spacing for net returns, with a maximum in the range of 23 to 46 cm. Optima for Frontier Russet and Ranger Russet were between 15 and 46 cm. Midsize yield appeared to be the best criterion for determining optimum spacing. Marketable yield was also a useful measurement. All 3 cultivars gave maximum midsize yields at a stemdensity of 10.5-12.1/m and a tuber density of 23.9-24.9/m. Tuber density showed some promise as a predictor of optimum seed spacing for new cultivars.