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Conservation Management Practices and Rotations for Irrigated Processing Potato in Southern Alberta

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Abstract

Irrigated processing potato production is an important part of southern Alberta’s agricultural economy. A 12-year (2000–11) study compared conservation (CONS) and conventional (CONV) management for potato in 3- to 6-year rotations which also included dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), and soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Oat (Avena sativa L.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) were added to the longest rotation. Conservation management included reduced tillage, cover crops, feedlot manure compost addition, and solid-seeded dry bean. Averaged over 12 years, a 5-year CONS rotation (potato–wheat–sugar beet–wheat–dry bean) resulted in 18 % higher marketable tuber yield than a 3-year CONV rotation (potato–dry bean–wheat). Reduced incidence of potato early dying was also found with CONS management. Results indicate that integration of CONS management practices led to yield and disease control benefits without negatively impacting tuber quality.

Resumen

La producción de papa para proceso con riego es una parte importante de la economía agrícola del sur de Alberta. Un estudio de 12 años (2000–2011) comparó el manejo de la conservación (CONS) y el convencional (CONV) de papa en rotaciones de 3 a 6 años que también incluyó frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), remolacha azucarera (Beta vulgaris L.) y trigo suave (Triticum aestivum L.). La avena (Avena sativa L.) y un pasto o hierba triguera (Phleum pratense L.) se agregaron a la rotación más larga. El manejo de conservación incluyó labranza reducida, cultivos de cobertura, composta de estiércol de corral de engorda y frijol de grano sólido. Promediando sobre los 12 años, la rotación de cultivos CONS por cinco años (papa, trigo, remolacha, trigo, frijol) dio como resultado un 18 % de más alto rendimiento de tubérculo comercializable que una rotación CONV de tres años (papa, frijol, trigo). También se encontró incidencia reducida de muerte temprana con manejo CONS. Los resultados indican que la integración de las prácticas de manejo CONS conduce a beneficio en rendimiento y control de enfermedades sin impactar negativamente la calidad de tubérculo.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Jim Sukeroff, Dale Reynolds, staff and summer students at the AAFC Vauxhall Sub-station for field assistance. Ron Gregus assisted with potato management. Jennifer Nitschelm (2000–06) and Peter Regitnig (2007–11), Rogers Sugar Ltd./Lantic Inc. (Taber, AB), managed sugar beet husbandry. Funding contributions from the Alberta Agricultural Research Institute, the Potato Growers of Alberta, Alberta Pulse Growers; Lantic Inc., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Matching Investment Initiative and the Pulse Science Cluster are gratefully acknowledged.

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Larney, F.J., Pearson, D.C., Blackshaw, R.E. et al. Conservation Management Practices and Rotations for Irrigated Processing Potato in Southern Alberta. Am. J. Potato Res. 93, 50–63 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-015-9487-z

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