Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association

In the April 2011 Badger Common’Tater

New Tools Available for Irrigation and Water Management

Every successful grower knows the importance of adequate soil moisture to crop yields and quality.  The total soil water storage capacity is a function of both soil texture and root zone depth. A sand soil has about one-half of the water retention capacity per unit depth than a silt loam soil and a long root has access to more water than a short root.  Read the full story in the April Irrigation issue of The Badger Common’Tater.

Irrigation in Potato Field
Irrigation scheduling and soil moisture monitoring used together as part of a soil water management plan can help to better manage soil water.  Using resources provided by the WPVGA, software development has begun on an updated irrigation scheduling tool (WISP 2011).

Irrigation: Impacts on Disease Management in Potato Production

By Dr. Amanda Gevens, Assistant Professor & Extension Plant Pathologist of Potato & Vegetable Crops, University of Wisconsin-Madison

 Irrigation in Potato Field

On the heels of a year with record high precipitation in the state of Wisconsin, it takes a reminder of basic crop physiology to get a plant pathologist thinking about supplemental irrigation.   Irrigation is essential for profitable commercial production of a shallow-rooted crop such as potato.  The appropriate amount and timing of water application are critical for maintaining ideal root zone moisture for optimal growth, tuber quality, and disease control. 

See “The Badger Beat” column in the April 2011 issue of The Badger Common’Tater magazine, as Dr. Gevens highlights key potato diseases which need to be considered when planning overhead irrigation through the growing season.

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