JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

In order to study the effect of depth of drip placement in soil in subsurface drip irrigation, and fertilization time during irrigation events, on tuber yield of potato, an experiment was carried out in Jiroft area in 1389. This experiment was in a completely randomized block design with four replications, with depth placement of drip tape as the main plot, and fertilization time as the sub-plot. Results showed that depth placement of drip tape had a significant effect on tuber yield, plant height, number of stems, stem diameter and dry plant weight at 1% level, number of tubers in plant, and wet plant weight and stolen height at 5% level. Fertilization time had a significant effect on tuber yield, stem diameter, stem number in plant, and plant height at 1% level and on dry plant weight and plant tuber number at 5% level. But, it did not show any significant effect on other attributes. Also, interactional effects of treatments were significant on tuber yield per plant, stem diameter, plant height, and number of tubers at 1% level, and on dry plant weight at 5% level, but the effect on other traits was not significant. According to the statistical results, the highest yield was obtained from the depth of 15 cm and middle time of fertilization.

To determine the nitrate pollution (water, soil, and tubers) in small (< 0.5 ha), medium (0.5- 1 ha) and large (> 1 ha) size of potato fields, this study was conducted in Fereidan region of Isfahan province during growing season of 2014-2015. For this purpose, the amounts of inputs and the tuber yield were recorded in each farm. Also, average nitrate-N concentration in irrigation water, soil and tubers of different potato farms were measured before planting and after harvesting. The results showed that the average soil N-nitrate concentration in small, medium and large size farms were 16.3, 17.4 and 19.9 mg kg^-1 before planting and 10.3, 13.3 and 23.3 mg kg^-1 after harvesting, respectively. The average N-nitrate concentration of irrigation water in small, medium and large size farms were 36.3, 27.1 and 19.5 mg L^-1 before planting and 47.6, 33.1 and 16.4 mg L^-1 after harvesting, respectively. At the post-harvest time, NO₃-N concentration of irrigation water were below the standard range concentration (45 mg L^-1) in the all large farms while 87 % of small and 85% of medium farms had more than standard concentration. The nitrate concentrations of tubers in large-sized farms were lower than others. The tuber NO₃-N concentration was affected by potato cultivar. The lowest concentration of nitrate was observed in the late-season potato cultivars (Agria). that might be associated with greater tubers yield.