Potato Research

The European Association for Potato Research (EAPR) publishes a journal, Potato Research, which includes original scientific contributions on both fundamental and applied research on potatoes, review articles and topics of general interest. It also contains Association news and reports on section meetings (including abstracts of papers presented).
A volume of the Journal (usually approximately 450 pages), consists of four issues, published in the same year. Submission of manuscripts is exclusively online via a web-based electronic submission and tracking system available at https://www.editorialmanager.com/potr

EAPR Members have online access to Potato Research (use the EAPR member login page)
A list of addresses of editors of ‘Potato Research’
Contents of ‘Potato Research’ can be found at Springerlink
Instructions for authors
Any comments regarding the publication and distribution of Potato Research should be addressed to EAPR

Springer Link

https://link.springer.com/journal/11540

Latest Issues

Entrepreneurial Behaviour Determinants of Potato Farmers: Evidence from Northeastern States of India
19th December, 2024
Abstract

Entrepreneurship is a crucial driver of growth in the economy. The current study employed a design based on ex-post facto research among the highest potato-producing districts in northeast Indian states, comprising Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland. It includes the economics of potato cultivation, disclosing productivity variations and income across the states. Multistage sampling was followed to select eight blocks, sixteen villages and 480 respondents for data collection using a pre-tested interview schedule. The results indicated the outperformance of Tripura among others in potato productivity, and most potato growers belonged to the age group (35–55 years), with males constituting slightly over half of the population, and medium-sized (4–7 members) families. A substantial portion of the population had completed higher secondary education, while illiteracy rates remained noteworthy. Entrepreneurial tendencies among farmers revealed a moderate level of engagement, where 16.9% exhibited a high level of entrepreneurial behaviour, and 3.5% were concerned with potato farming. Regarding economic motivation and risk management ability, analyses proved that 13.5% and 9.6% displayed high entrepreneurial behaviour. Concerning the scientific orientation in entrepreneurial behaviour, 77.7% of farmers revealed a medium, followed by 12.9% with a high and 10.4% with a low level. Most (86.2%) farmers had a medium risk management ability. The investigation utilized multiple regression analysis to elucidate the intricate relationships between key variables and entrepreneurial behaviour, and the analytical variables productivity, knowledge, size of land holding, area under potato, annual income, sources of information and marketing channel had a positive and significant association with entrepreneurship. Principal component analysis revealed that decision-making ability, achievement motivation, innovativeness and management orientation were the top contributors in deciding the entrepreneurial behaviour of potato farmers.
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Effects of Planting Date and Genotype on Potato Growth and Yield Determination in a Sub-Tropical Continental Growing Environment
18th December, 2024
Abstract

Potato tuber yield-determining seasonal changes, especially in subtropical growing settings, are poorly investigated. This study examined eleven potato genotypes ‘G’ under four planting dates ‘P’ (very early (02 Oct), early (14 Oct), late (26 Oct), and very late (07 Nov)) and their interactive response (P × G) on potato growth and tuber yield in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan over two years (2017–2018 and 2018–2019). Early planting improved most yield-determining traits over late planting, extending the growing period (PMD) and maximizing green canopy cover (CG, 72.3%), mother stems plant−1 (MSN, 4.1), leaf number plant−1 (LN, 50.8), leaf area plant−1 (LAP, 5343 cm2), cumulative photosynthetic active radiation (PARINTC, 900.9 MJ m−2) and thermal days (TDC, 52.9 td), tubers plant−1 (TN, 11.8), marketable tuber weight (TWM, 103.0 g), marketable (TYM, 30.7 t ha−1), and total (TYT, 32.9 t ha−1) tuber yield. Late plantings reduced PMD and thus these traits. Considerable genotypic variation was found in plant phenology, growth, and tuber yield traits, however, genotype ranking also varied by planting date, indicating strong P × G interactions. The genotype ‘Arizona’ outperformed others with maximum TYM (29.2 t ha−1) and TYT (30.4 t ha−1) across planting dates. We identified key traits including days to emergence (ED), CG, PARINTC, and TDC, which are vital indicators of yield potential and important for breeding and selection. Our findings highlight the complexity of yield formation in potatoes and suggest tailored genotype selection and planting strategies to enhance yield stability and resilience, which are crucial for adapting to climate change and meeting food demand.
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Impact of Combined Biological and Chemical Fertilizers on Yield and Nutritional and Biochemical Characteristics of Potato Cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.)
16th December, 2024
Abstract

Potato cultivation, as one of the most extensively farmed tuberous crops, requires a substantial supply of fertilizers. However, improper fertilizer application can significantly disrupt the soil ecosystem and increase heavy metal contamination. This study aimed to investigate the interaction effects of fertilization type (chemical, biological, and their combination), seed tuber weight (small (≤ 75 g), medium (70–140 g), large (≥ 140 g)), and potato cultivars (Sante, Arinda, and Savalan) on various morphological, physiological, nutritional, and biochemical traits of potato. The methodology employed a split-split plot design in the form of a randomized complete block with three replications over 2 years, 2019 and 2020. The results indicated that all studied traits, except for plant height, were influenced by the experimental parameters. Biological fertilization generally improved plant growth parameters (height, shoot number, leaf area index), tuber yield, and nutrient content (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) compared to chemical or no fertilization. Starch content was highest in medium-sized tubers and was particularly enhanced by biological fertilization in the second year. Factor analysis results revealed that Savalan cultivar along with biological and combined fertilization was associated with P and K content, tuber yield, plant height, chlorophyll content, and starch percentage. Furthermore, tuber yield positively correlated with the same mentioned parameters. Overall, Savalan cultivar generally outperformed the Arinda and Sante cultivars in most characteristics. Furthermore, solanine content was lowest with biological fertilization, especially in the Savalan cultivar. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that biological fertilization, particularly for the Savalan cultivar, can enhance potato performance while reducing undesirable solanine content.
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THE 3RD INTERNATIONAL SPONGOSPORA WORKSHOP, OSLO, NORWAY, JULY 2024
12th December, 2024
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Dynamic Response of Potato Growth Indicators to Effective Cumulative Temperature and Water and Nitrogen Regulation Based on a Logistic Model
9th December, 2024
Abstract

Potato is one of the key food crops and China is the largest potato producer in the world. Taking into account the combined effects of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization with effective accumulated temperature, it becomes essential to optimize the levels of irrigation and nitrogen application for agricultural production. The objective of this study is to examine the prediction model for the growth dynamics of potato leaf area index (LAI) and biomass. We aim to analyze the characteristic parameters of these variables under various water and nitrogen regulations. The analysis will be based on effective accumulated temperature. In the field experiment, different irrigation quota and nitrogen application rates were set, designated as W and N respectively. The LAI, biomass, and yield quality indicators of potatoes were measured, and the dynamic equations of potato LAI and biomass based on effective accumulated temperature under different conditions of water and nitrogen regulation were fitted using a logistic model. The results indicated that the LAI and biomass of potato followed a unidirectional incremental pattern in response to effective accumulated temperature, represented by an S-shaped curve. The dynamic change process showed a slow-fast-slow trend. In the W3N2 (2100 m3 ha–1, 190 kg ha–1) treatment, the highest LAI value for potato was observed at 1700 °C d. Excessive water and nitrogen could increase the demand for effective standing temperature in potato biomass. The treatment with 2100 m3 ha−1 water and 110 kg ha–1 nitrogen resulted in the highest average total yield of 54.09 t ha–1 and commercial potato yield of 48.16 t ha–1. The logistic model was employed for both calibration and validation purposes. The correlation coefficients (R2) between the measured and simulated values, under moderate water and nitrogen conditions, exceeded 0.95. The study concluded that the logistic model effectively simulated the dynamic growth of potato under the regulation of effective accumulated temperature, water, and nitrogen. This model provides a theoretical basis for quantitatively simulating the growth and development dynamics of potato in the dry zone of Ningxia.
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Latest Issues

Entrepreneurial Behaviour Determinants of Potato Farmers: Evidence from Northeastern States of India

Abstract

Effects of Planting Date and Genotype on Potato Growth and Yield Determination in a Sub-Tropical Continental Growing Environment

Abstract

Impact of Combined Biological and Chemical Fertilizers on Yield and Nutritional and Biochemical Characteristics of Potato Cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Abstract

THE 3RD INTERNATIONAL SPONGOSPORA WORKSHOP, OSLO, NORWAY, JULY 2024

Dynamic Response of Potato Growth Indicators to Effective Cumulative Temperature and Water and Nitrogen Regulation Based on a Logistic Model

Abstract

EAPR Sustaining Members