Simulation and modeling of water movement in potato (Solanum tuberosum)

Abstract

Hydrus–2D model was selected for simulation and modeling of soil water under subsurface drip system in ‘Kufri Anand’ potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crops grown during winter (rabi) season 2002–03 through 2004–05. Potato was sown at a depth of 15 cm in the raised ridges prepared during the third week of October at ridge spacing of 30 cm×60 cm, respectively. The study consisted of three different irrigation levels of 60, 80 and 100% of the crop evapotranspiration (ie 0.6V, 0.8V and 1.0V) and five depths of placement of drip tapes including one at the surface and the others at 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm soil depths. Drip tape of 0.3 mm thickness was buried manually at different depths. It was observed that by changing the position of water source from surface to subsurface, the wetted width was increased by 25–50%. Maximum potato yield of 33.3 tonnes/ha was recorded at 10 cm depth of drip tape at 100% of the crop evapotranspiration.