A dynamic model for responsive scheduling of potato irrigation based on simulated water-use and yield

A model was developed to simulate tuber yield and water use of a potato crop by modifying and extending an existing water-use model. Empirical validation of the model was carried out with data from 37 crop-years of experiments on a wide range of cultivars at five sites within the UK (viz Silsoe, Gleadthorpe, Rothamsted, Woburn and Dundee). The study confirmed the validity of the model over a range of yields from 1·67 to 73·7 t/ha and under conditions from severely droughted to fully irrigated.