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 cro p by modifying and extending an existing water-use model. Empirical validat ion of the model was carried out with data from 37 crop-years of experiment s on a wide range of cultivars at five sites within the UK (viz Silsoe, Gle adthorpe, 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 condit ions from severely droughted to fully irrigated.