Roots and water use

Plants growing from tubers develop adventitious roots at the nodes of the underground stems and stolons. Plants grown from true seed develop a slender tap root from which lateral branches arise.

Uptake of water from ridges and from deeper soil layers
The roots are essential for the uptake of water and nutrients from the soil. Only part of the water needed is extracted from the ridge. The remaining part needed comes from deeper soil layers
Water use of single plant

Rooting depth and irrigation frequency
Compared to other crops, potato roots rather shallow (often no deeper than 40 to 50 cm).
If, however, no obstructive layers or sharp transitions from one soil type to another occur in the soil profile, plants may root as deep as 1 m. When rooting is deep, irrigation can be less frequent than when rooting is shallow. For the growth of roots the presence of oxygen is essential. With too heavy irrigations in the early growth of the crop there will be a lack of oxygen and root growth is hampered. Compacted layers hamper root growth.

Rooting depth and soil conditions==== Root system and soil compaction

Measures that can be taken to make conditions advantageous for deep rooting are:
  • select fields with good physical soil properties
  • avoid too heavy irrigation in the early stages of crop growth
  • adequate soil tillage operations
  • avoid soil compacting