Studying effects of different irrigation levels and planting patterns on yield and water use efficiency in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

ABSTRACT: Field experiments were conducted at the Agricultural Faculty Research Field of the Mohaghegh Ardabili University, (north-east Iran). The main goal was to examine the effects of different drip irrigation levels and different planting patterns on yield and water use efficiency in potato. Irrigation factors included: I1=Full irrigation, I2= 80% of full irrigation and I3= 60% of full irrigation. cultivation pattern included: B1= 1 row 75 cm on bed 75 cm (furrow to furrow), B2= 2 rows 35 cm on bed 150 cm (furrow to furrow) and B3= 2 rows 45 cm on bed 150 cm (furrow to furrow). Results indicated that tuber fresh and dry yield per plant and number of tubers per plant was affected by different irrigation levels and full irrigation had the most values for these traits. From the irrigation efficiency point of view, in full irrigation, 35, 75 and 45 planting patterns had the most water use efficiency respectively, but they had the least values respectively in 60 percent of full irrigation. As a conclusion, potato was affected severely by water stress and planting pattern didn’t have any significant effect on different traits.