The effect of irrigation strategies during tuber initiation on marketable yield and development of common scab disease of potato in Russet Burbank in Tasmania

Management of soil moisture deficit during tuber initiation and early development was important for the optimisation of net and marketable tuber yields of cv. Russet Burbank on the typical red ferrosol cropping soils of Northern Tasmania, Australia. An effect of reduced water input during the tuber initiation period on increasing incidence of common scab disease was noted in one trial. In subsequent trials disease inoculum levels were not sufficient to show differences between treatments despite a history of disease at the site. For optimisation of marketable yield and probable assistance in the management of common scab disease it is recommended that irrigation scheduling to known soil moisture deficits be adopted during this period of growth on this soil type.