Growers want to maintain a uniform distribution of soil water in their potato fields to avoid crop stress and improve tuber yield and quality. Several factors can contribute to the nonuniformity of soil water contents in the field. Factors related towater inputs include the variability of rainfall across the field and variability of water applications by an irrigation system. Factors related to the land include the variability of soil texture, soil water holding capacity, and topography from one location to another. Topography can produce nonuniform soil water contents in the root zone because of surface water runoff and redistribution. It is easy to see the effects of surface water runoff at a large scale—hilltops can become eroded and droughty,while low areas can become excessively wet. This article summarizes some recent research on the nonuniformity of soil water contents at a smaller scale—between the hill and furrow—and discusses some implications for water management in potatoes.
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