Manipulation of Physiological Seed Age of Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet Potatoes – Economic Evaluation
2016
Nepal, Sarad | McIntosh, Christopher S. | Thornton, Michael K. | Olsen, Nora | Nolte, Phillip | Patterson, Paul E.
Physiological age of seed potatoes can impact stem number per plant and harvestable tuber number and size. Alteration in harvested tuber size has economic implications based upon market and pricing. The objective of this study was to manipulate physiological age of seed potatoes utilizing seven storage temperature regimes for two cultivars (Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank) over three different growing seasons in Idaho and to assess changes in stem number and harvested tuber size profile. Aged seed were planted in three locations in Idaho and evaluated for stem number per plant and yield. As seed storage temperature increased, seed physiologically aged, as evidenced by a rise in the number of stems per plant. This result was similar in all three locations and for both cultivars. The number of stems per plant can be used as an early season predictor of potato yield and size. Stem number per plant, the number of tubers and average tuber size were compared for each treatment and location. Economic returns were analyzed using ordinary least squares regressions. Economic impacts of physiological seed aging in terms of dollars per hectare for fresh and processed markets were mixed.
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