Summary in Spanish
The nutritional and water requirements in potato (Solanum tuberosum) cultivation are vital to ensure optimal yield and quality tubers, considering the search for technologies and new mechanisms to optimize the production of seed tubers in Ecuador, the present research has been developed with the evaluation of eight treatments comparing pulse irrigation and continuous irrigation under four doses of fertilization. The best response was obtained with conventional irrigation obtaining an average of 20.06 tubers per plant and dose 4 at 125% (262.5 Kg * Ha-1 N, 309.37 Kg * Ha-1 P2O5 and 318.75 Kg * Ha-1 K2O) in the variable of coarse seed tubers category, presented an average of 2.36 tubers per plant. There was interaction between the factors under study, the best being treatment 4 with an average of 3.24 seed tubers per plant. Regarding the internal quality control, the tubers under the water application methods evaluated, present high levels of health, with an average of 7.8% in both cases. The cost analysis of treatment three corresponded to the use of irrigation for 16 continuous minutes and 100% fertilization (conventional irrigation + 210 Kg * Ha-1 N, 247.5 P2O5 Kg * Ha-1, 255 K2O Kg * Ha- 1) obtaining a marginal return rate of 1102.8% being the most economically viable technology. Under the conditions of this experiment, the use of pulse irrigation generates higher production costs due to the technology to be used, however, it can be considered for future studies in other crops.
English summary
The nutritional and hydric requirements for the process of potato (Solanum tuberosum) production are essential for assuring optimal yield and quality of the product. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate eight different treatments, contrasting pulse irrigation with continuous irrigation under four fertilization doses. The best result was obtained using the conventional irrigation system, obtaining an average of 20.06 tubers per plant and a dose of 4 at 125% (262,5 Kg*Ha-1 N, 309.37 Kg*Ha-1 P2O5 y 318.75 Kg*Ha-1 K2O). When considering the variable of coarse seed tubers, it showed an average of 2.36 tubers per plant. The variables evaluated in this study indicated interactions, demonstrating that the best treatment was number 4 with the best average of 3.24 seed tubers per plant. Regarding the internal quality control, the tubers evaluated under the water application methods presented high levels, with an average of 7.8% in both cases. On the other hand, analyzing the costs of treatment, treatment three, which corresponded to the use of irrigation for 16 continuous minutes and 100% fertilization (Conventional irrigation +210 Kg*Ha-1 N, 247,5 P2O5 Kg*Ha-1, 255 K2O Kg*Ha-1) obtained a marginal rate of return of 1102.8%, being the most economically viable technology. Taking under consideration the conditions of this experiment, the use of pulse irrigation generates higher production costs due to its technology, however, it can be considered for future studies in other crops.
