Assessment and Demonstration of the Sustainability of Long vs. Short Potato Rotations

Assessment and Demonstration of the Sustainability of Long vs. Short Potato Rotations

Summary

Thirty-six fields were surveyed by working with growers and industry personnel to get actual field yields and tuber quality and post-storage measurements. The field pairs were selected by choosing fields in close proximity to each other and with similar soil, topography, and management with the exception of rotation history. Fields with short rotation had potatoes every other year with small grains as the rotation crop in each case. The long-rotation fields had potatoes every four years, again with small grains as the rotation crops. The results of the yield differences show substantial decreases in total and US No. 1 yield with decrease in years between potato crops. A difference in total yield was 42 cwt/a in favor of the fields with longer rotation length. US No. 1 tubers were also favored with longer rotation length with a 51 cwt/a difference. Growers seem to be very interested in lengthening rotation and moving toward increased sustainability (as determined by surveys of attending growers showing a 42% shift in attitude from five years ago). This interest is due to somewhat widespread problems with various pests and pathogens (such as pink rot, nematodes, etc.).

Objectives/Performance Targets

The objectives of this project are to quantify the effects and educate growers concerning the long-term impacts of short vs. long periods of time between potato crops with regard to potato yield and tuber quality parameters, all major potato pests and pathogens, as well as soil health parameters.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Thirty-six fields were surveyed by working with growers and industry personnel to get actual field yields and tuber quality and post-storage measurements. The field pairs were selected by choosing fields in close proximity to each other and with similar soil, topography, and management with the exception of rotation history. Fields with short rotation had potatoes every other year with small grains as the rotation crop in each case. The long-rotation fields had potatoes every four years, again with small grains as the rotation crops. The results of the yield differences show substantial decreases in total and US No. 1 yield with decrease in years between potato crops. A difference in total yield was 42 cwt/a in favor of the fields with longer rotation length. US No. 1 tubers were also favored with longer rotation length with a 51 cwt/a difference. No other yield or pest parameters appeared to be substantially different (although this was assessed strictly by ratings given by growers). The container portion of the study was not brought to fruition due to various problems in execution, however, the soil is conserved and will be tested in 2007. No statistical analysis is available due to the small sample size for this survey (statistical analysis will be performed at the end of the three-year trial, when enough data will be available to make the sample size large enough to accurately detect differences).

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

No definitive impacts have been made to date as this project is in its initial phase. However, several workshops have been conducted and more are scheduled where growers will learn about the importance of rotation frequency and participation in this project. Growers seem to be very interested in lengthening rotation and moving toward increased sustainability (as determined by surveys of attending growers showing a 42% shift in attitude from five years ago). This interest is due to somewhat widespread problems with various pests and pathogens (such as pink rot, nematodes, etc.).

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