Impact of Cultivar and Growing Season on Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Under Center Pivot Irrigation System

Abstract

2 Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate potato (`Solanum tuberosum L.) yield and tuber quality under center pivot irrigation system at Desi area in the southern part of Jordan desert. This experiment conducted on the seven potato varieties (`Spunta`, `Arrow`, `Bernadette`, `Debora`, `Matador`, `SerafinaandZafira`) by using randomized complete block design with three replicates over two growing seasons (spring and fall of 2008). The spring growing season showed better yield by 16% over that of the fall season. Although, average tuber weight was higher in the fall season than the spring, the specific gravity was greater in spring than in the fall season, however, all cultivars responded similarly with respect to specific gravity in the fall season. Total yield, yield parameters (number and weight of tubers per plant and average tuber weight) and fruit quality including specific gravity and starch content showed large variations among potato cultivars during the two seasons. `SpuntaandMatadorwere superior in their yield; and produced 39.6t/ha and 42.1t/ha respectively in the spring season and 39.0 t/ha and 41.9 t/ha respectively in the fall season. The starch content ofMatadorwas the highest (18.01%) in spring season compared to the other cultivars. Generally, In addition to be affected by cultivars, starch concentration also was significantly affected by growing season showed higher starch content in the spring season over what recorded in the fall season.