Water management in potato

The potato crop is extremely sensitive to water stress, from both inadequate and excess water, resulting in reductions in tuber yield, grade and quality. Effective water management to alleviate water deficit stress without contributing to soil water excess is a challenge. This chapter gives an overview on potato water requirements, irrigation scheduling, crop response to either deficit or excessive water applied to the root zone and the main irrigation methods utilized. Considering the increasing worldwide competition for freshwater resources, different possible water-saving strategies are shown and discussed. The effects of water-saving strategies on tuber yield, water use efficiency and fertilizer use efficiency, not neglecting the possibility of using saline water, are also analyzed in the light of both profitable production and environmental protection. Tuber quality has proved to be influenced by inadequate or excess water, highlighting the importance of optimal water management. Important differences emerged between cultivars in relation to drought tolerance, water productivity and tuber quality loss, suggesting that the breeding and selection of genotypes may be a long-term solution to the problem. The last part of the chapter deals with the effects that water management can have on the major pests and diseases.