Potato growers in England face uncertainty over irrigation supplies for the 2027 season following drought conditions and restrictions on water abstraction.
Greens of Soham applied twice its usual irrigation volume by August but reported that additional water was needed to maintain yields and quality.
The Environment Agency's November 2 assessment examined reservoir refill prospects under winter rainfall scenarios of 100%, 80%, and 60% of the long-term average.
At 100%, refill prospects were generally good, although moderate in East Anglia, Devon, Cornwall, and the West Midlands. At 80%, prospects in these regions were poor, while 60% could result in widespread abstraction restrictions.
The agency reported that declining river flows were already limiting withdrawals under some licences as the reservoir refill season began on November 1.
Growers must consider available water storage, pumping capacity, and irrigation timing when determining planting areas.
Research from Prince Edward Island found that supplemental irrigation increased marketable potato yields during drier seasons but provided limited benefits when rainfall was sufficient.
Shared reservoirs, soil moisture monitoring, and irrigation scheduling are among the options available to growers managing water constraints.
Source - https://www.freshplaza.com
