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Grow higher potato yields with consistent size and shape via precision irrigation
At a time when the cost of farming is going up, the pressure on potato growers is to both grow more efficiently, and produce higher-quality potatoes. That’s why precision irrigation is such a big help.
Why Choose Precision Irrigation for Your Potatoes?
- Satisfy all market segments
Every market hosts unique demands; fresh requires superb appearance, high cooking quality and even shape. Processed insists on low reducing sugar concentrations, uniform tuber, and consistent dry metre. Whatever your goal, precision irrigation will get you there. - Keep your potatoes healthy
Drip irrigation delivers water precisely to the roots, avoiding leaf moisture, and ultimately fostering a dry environment. Less moisture reduces the risk of potato blight and other fungal diseases. - Take control of plant nutrition
Potatoes are heavy feeders; their root system is shallow and fibrous so they only flourish with consistent nutrition. Precision Fertigation™ brings nutrients directly to the root zone, on demand. - Optimise your resources
Drip irrigation distributes your water and nutrients only where the crops grow, avoiding waste between the beds. In addition, there is no water loss due to run-off or evaporation. - Foster Uniformity
Uniform distribution of water and nutrients creates uniform tubers across the field. Even in the face of strong winds, challenging topography, inconsistent row length or odd field shape, drip irrigation delivers consistency.
How Precision Irrigation Helps
Precision irrigation is a technique that gives you power over your potato field by using SDI (sub-surface drip irrigation), delivering water and nutrients directly to the roots of each plant, in specific combinations. It fits into any plot, and can be applied to all topographies, field sizes and soil types. So you can maintain optimal soil moisture and nutrient levels in all conditions.
And if you add digital controls to your system, you’ll be able to monitor and optimise your potato yield remotely as it’s growing, gaining data about every aspect of your field and local climate. So wherever you are, you can ensure top-quality potato yields every season, do less of the dirty work, and make even bigger profits.
Read MorePotato FAQs: Things We Get Asked Often
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Why should I choose precision irrigation over other, cheaper methods?
Precision irrigation will always give you higher economic returns. You’ll get consistently higher and better yields using your resources efficiently. And by delivering water and nutrients directly to plant roots, you’ll ensure healthier soil for future years. It’s a secure, long-term crop profitability model that only improves over time.
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Should I use surface or sub-surface drip irrigation?
Sub-surface drip irrigation (SDI) systems are most suitable for large-scale potato field operations. Compared with on-surface systems, SDIs deliver additional benefits such as lower labour requirements, protection from agro-machinery interference, and enhanced water-use efficiency.
One of the biggest advantages of SDI is that it is not wetting the canopy, resulting in significantly reduced leaf disease.
On-surface systems are best for small to medium-scale potato growers, or for use on extremely sandy soil plots. They’re also a great option for plots that are deep-tilled. But bear in mind that while they require a lower initial investment, they do carry a higher operational cost.
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What if I have an uneven topography or irregularly shaped potato field?
Again, you’ll still make bigger wins by switching to precision irrigation. You can make sure of that by installing pressure-compensated (PC) dripperlines in your system, so water and nutrients are delivered to each plant with a uniform flow rate – across your entire field.
Recommended Solutions for Potatoes
Typhoon™ Plus
Medium-walled dripperlines – the ideal choice for irrigating field crops with semi-permanent usage. And built to get you the optimal dripperline ROI.
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DripNet PC™ AS
Multi-seasonal (4-9 seasons) sub-surface irrigation in flat and complex topographies.
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Streamline™ X
Thin-walled dripperlines – this is the toughest single-season drip line ever made.
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