Spudman February 2023 - 24

DROUGHT-PRONE
POTATO FARMS
Growers have the challenge of
keeping moisture levels adequate year
after year, despite prolonged drought
conditions. Investing in an innovative
soil microbial food can wake up soil
microbes and improve your water
holding capacity to support your
potatoes during times of drought.
In warm, dry climates, soil microbes are
able to create larger soil aggregates with
microbial glues and nets. They increase
soil moisture infiltration and the capacity
for moisture storage. They improve an
orchard's resistance to drought stress
and increase water productivity.
With increased penetration and
infiltration, soil microbes help healthy
soil transport water from the soil
surface down around the root zone and
store the water in the soil. Farms with
healthy soil lose less water in runoff
losses, and soil moisture reserves from
winter can contribute to the growing
season's evapotranspiration and lessen
irrigation needs. Thus, feeding soil
microbes makes the most of your water
year-round.
This is important because water
intake affects nutrient intake. Water is
the main channel roots use to intake
nutrients and nutrient mobility. Water
productivity makes nutrients more
mobile, meaning nutrients can move
through well-structured soil to where
they're needed. Drought conditions
not only mean less water, but also
less nitrogen and phosphorus intake,
yielding a worse ROI on your alreadyexpensive
fertilizer.
Soil microbes also release
substances into the soil near the
potato roots that can help manage
abiotic stress. Osmoprotectants
manage challenges by aiding in water
balance under drought conditions.
Antioxidants mitigate oxidative stress
and internal plant cell damage during
drought stress. Support at the roots
can lead to healthier crops above
ground and increase yield potentials
for potato farmers, despite extreme
drought conditions.
FLOODING-PRONE
POTATO FARMS
Flooding is the epitome of " too much
of a good thing. " When water pools at
the surface of a potato crop, it can lead
to erosion, nutrient loss and carbon
loss. Other negative impacts include salt
buildup, denitrification, leaching, soil
compaction and loss of potato crops.
Potatoes have a shallow root and are
very sensitive to too little or too much
water. In excess water conditions,
numerous problems can arise.
Continually wet soil with low oxygen
levels can create " black heart " (dying off
of internal tuber tissue) and plant death.
Too much water also means the potato
crop has less access to the essential
oxygen it needs. Oxygen is as essential
to potato farms as water. Too little
oxygen decreases water and nutrient
uptake and affects root development.
Oxygen plays a role in potato mineral
and water absorption, manufacturing
plant hormones, excluding sodium and
See SOIL MICROBES, Page 27
INNOVATIVE
ECONOMICAL
RELIABLE
ENJOYABLE
24
Spudman * February 2023
https://www.dewulfgroup.com/
Spudman February 2023

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