posted on 2023-05-03, 19:26authored bySarah Sinton, Richard Falloon, Peter Jamieson, Esther MeenkenEsther Meenken, Farhat Shah, Hamish Brown, Steven Dellow, Alex Michel, John Fletcher
In New Zealand, potato crop yields of 90 t ha−1 are achievable but at 55 t ha−1, the average is becoming economically unsustainable. In 2012/13, a grower-initiated survey found that Rhizoctonia solani and Spongospora subterranea (soil-borne pathogens) and soil compaction were widespread in 11 Canterbury potato crops. Targeted areas in these crops had measured yield losses of 0 (healthy plants) – 42 (diseased, resource constrained plants) t ha−1, limiting the farmer-measured field yield to a 56 t ha−1 average. In 2014/15, growth, water use and health of three contrasting crops were measured. Near-potential yield was achieved in one crop when disease incidence and severity were low and resources adequate. The other two crops yielded less than potential; one had an inadequate water supply and the other widespread soil-borne disease. Any suspected links between soil-borne disease, soil compaction and yield were further investigated by using them as factors in replicated experiments reported elsewhere.
Sinton, S. M., Falloon, R. E., Jamieson, P. D., Meenken, E. D., Shah, F. A., Brown, H. E., Dellow, S. J., Michel, A. J., & Fletcher, J. D. (2022). Yield depression in New Zealand potato crops associated with soil compaction and soil-borne diseases. American Journal of Potato Research, 99, 160–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-022-09864-5