TITLE:
Modeling the Effect of Planting Dates and Nitrogen Application Rates on Potatoes Water Productivity in Jordan Valley
AUTHORS:
Ayman Suleiman
KEYWORDS:
Deficit Irrigation, Potatoes, DSSAT, Nitrogen Application, Planting Dates, Water Productivity
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.13 No.1,
January
28,
2022
ABSTRACT: Agricultural sector in Jordan
is facing serious challenges in meeting the growing
needs of food security because of its low water availability. Maintaining and enhancing agricultural water productivity
under such prevailing environmental constraints are hard to achieve.
Potatoes water productively in Jordan Valley was modeled using Decision Support
System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) under six nitrogen applications (0,
60, 80, 100, 120 and 140 kg/ha) and twelve planting dates every two weeks from
October 1 to March 15 scenarios. The potatoes yield
increased from 0% to 100% nitrogen treatment and then no considerable increase
occurred. The potatoes’ crop
yield increased from October 1st to January 15 and then decreased
after which until the last day of planting date. The seasonal cumulative crop
evapotranspiration for potatoes about doubled from 0% to 60% nitrogen treatment
and then kept increasing gradually until the last treatment. The growing season
cumulative crop evapotranspiration for potatoes increased gradually from
October 1 to March 1. The water productivity increased from 0% nitrogen
treatment to 100% and then decreased. The potatoes’ water productivity increased from October 1 until
November 15 and then decreased to the end. From these results, we recommend
that 100% of nitrogen requirements should be applied. The best window for potatoes’ planting date is the last two
weeks in November.