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Effect of Soil Temperature at Different Growth Stages on Growth and Development of Potato Plants 1
Author(s) -
Epstein Eliot
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1966.00021962005800020014x
Subject(s) - sowing , plant growth , agronomy , biology , yield (engineering) , growth rate , maturity (psychological) , horticulture , mathematics , materials science , psychology , geometry , developmental psychology , metallurgy
The effect of soil temperature on potato growth depended on the stage of growth of the plant. The three growth stages studied were (a) planting to emergence, (b) emergence to 30 days, and (c) 30 days to maturity. In the first growth stages the plants did not emerge at 48F. However, if the potato plants were allowed to emerge, growth stage (b), and then placed at 48F, top growth developed. In the second growth stage (b) root growth was less sensitive to temperature differentials than top growth. In the third growth stage (c) soil temperature affected root concentration with depth but did not influence root distribution in a lateral direction. Tuber yield increased with increased temperature to 72F and then decreased at 84F. At 84F specific gravity of tuber was lower than at the other temperatures studied. Tuber shape was also affected by high soil temperature.