Whole vs. cut potato tubers for planting on irrigated land. 2
1917
Welch, J.S.
The experiments recorded here have been conducted for three years. The greatest possible care was taken to insure uniform soil conditions and to provide uniform irrigation and cultural methods. The results of the three years' work are in close agreement. Average results only are presented in this paper. In general, planting whole tubers produced a better stand than cut tubers, but the increase in stand was not at all commensurate with the greater weight of tubers used in obtaining it. The relative time from planting to emergence did not depend upon the use of whole or cut tubers. It was determined wholly by the size of the seed piece. Whole tubers showed no tendency whatever to develop only one sprout from the seed end. The number of tubers per hill decreased with the number of stalks per hill, but the number of tubers per plant increased as the number of stalks per hill decreased. The hills which had the greatest number of stalks invariably produced the greatest number of culls. In every size planted, whole tubers produced smaller potatoes than halved and halved produced smaller potatoes than quartered tubers. The greatest yield of marketable potatoes was produced from 8- to 10-ounce quartered and the 4- to 6-ounce halved tubers. In every weight of tubers selected the whole tubers produced smaller yields of marketable potatoes than the cut tubers. Under conditions which prevail on the average irrigated farm in southern Idaho, the planting of whole potatoes is not advisable.
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