Furrow vs hill planting of sprinkler-irrigated russet burbank potatoes on coarse-textured soils

Surface water runoff from the hill, where potatoes are planted, to the furrow may exacerbate potato drought sensitivity. Planting into furrows and constructing midrow ridges may improve water use efficiency and relieve water stress on potato by directing water toward, not away from, the plants. A 3-year field study was conducted to compare yields and tuber size distributions of furrow- and hill-planted potato (Solarium tuberosum L., 'Russet Burbank') on coarse-textured, well-drained soils under sprinkler irrigation. A split-plot experimental design with main plots of row orientation (N-S vs E-W) and subplots of planting method (hill and furrow) combined with two planting depths was used at two central North Dakota sites. Except for planting method and limiting the post-emergence cultivation in the furrow treatments, all cultural practices (fertilizer, irrigation, etc.) were identical and corresponded with conventional practices for hill planted potato. Row orientation did not affect yield for any tuber size category. Averaged over 3 years, furrow-planted potato produced 24% larger tubers (188 vs 151 g), 31% smaller yield for tubers < 113 g (4.99 vs 7.21 Mg ha(-1)), 28% smaller yield for tubers 113 to 170 g (8.14 vs 11.3 Mg ha(-1)), 8% larger yields for tubers 170 to 283 g (18.0 vs 16.6 Mg ha(-1)), 103% larger yields for tubers 283 to 454 g (10.9 vs 5.36 Mg ha(-1)), 341% larger yields for tubers > 454 g (2.65 vs 0.60 Mg ha(-1)), and 10% larger total yields (46.2 vs 41.9 Mg ha(-1)) compared with hill-planted potato. There were no differences in tuber specific gravity. Preliminary soil water measurements indicated an inter-row water-harvesting effect for furrow planting compared with hill planting. The furrow-planting method may offer significant potential for ameliorating the drought sensitivity of potato.