Root aeration improves yield and water use efficiency of irrigated potato in sandy clay loam soil

A field study was conducted in 2012 and 2013 to evaluate the effect of air-injection into the irrigation stream in subsurface trickle irrigation on the productivity of potato. The growth characteristics, yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of potatoes grown in a sandy clay loam soil with subsurface trickle irrigation with an air-injection treatment were compared with those of potatoes grown under a conventional trickle and subsurface trickle irrigation as a control. The yield was 27.11% and 17.8% greater, in the air injection treatment comparing with non-aerated treatments trickle irrigation (DI) and subsurface trickle irrigation (SDI) respectively, for the first season, while it was greater by 38.2% and 7.66% than DI and SDI, respectively, for the second season. The WUE was 46.41% and 30.52% greater, in the air injection treatment comparing with non-aerated treatments (DI) and (SDI) respectively, for the first season, while it was greater by 61.78% and 19.33% than DI and SDI, respectively, for the second season. The plant height was 14.7% and 6.07% greater, in the air injection treatment than in the control (DI) and (SDI) respectively, for the first season, while it was greater by 14.13% and 9.7% than in the control for the second season. The shoot fresh weight per plant was 14.8% and 4.61% greater, aerated treatment than in DI and SDI respectively, for the first season, while it was greater by 37.6% and 1.94% for the second season. Data from this study indicate that potato yield can be improved under SDI if the drip water is aerated.