Thesis
Economic returns from nontraditional additives and maleic hydrazide infrequently justify application on potato (Solanum tuberosum) in the Columbia Basin
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
05/2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000000075
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/120126
Abstract
Manufacturers of nontraditional crop additives frequently claim their products will enhance
potato yield and improve economic return; yet, many only offer grower testimonials for product
validation. Maleic hydrazide (MH) is used in-season to inhibit sprouting during storage and
improve marketable yield by reducing undersized and misshapen tubers, but existing data on MH
lack effects on economic return and newer, more efficient cultivars. Thus, these products may
only serve to reduce grower revenue. To test these claims, potato field trials were conducted
near Othello, Washington from 2016 to 2019 on 27 nontraditional additive treatments applied
to Russet Burbank (RB). Additionally, MH was trialed from 2018 to 2019 on Alturas, Clearwater
Russet (R.), Payette R., Ranger R., RB, R. Norkotah and Umatilla R. All products were applied in
addition to grower standard practices and per manufacturer instructions with the following
exceptions: Clearwater R., Payette R., and R. Burbank received early and late MH applications to
measure effects on sprout inhibition. Economic returns (ER) were calculated using a mock processing contract adjusted for product costs. Although ER values of the 27 nontraditional
treatments ranged from -7.7% to 8.5% of the control value, and yields ranged between 108 and
136 Mg ha-1
, differences were not significant. Across seven cultivars, MH treatment had no
significant effect on tuber size distribution, weight, or number per plant. However, ER and total,
market, and market yield >170g significantly declined by 5%, and 5.2, 4.5, and 5.1 Mg ha-1
,
respectively, from MH treatment when data were averaged across Alturas, Clearwater R., Payette
R., R. Norkotah, RB (2018), and Umatilla R. In 2019 only, MH improved ER and market yield of R.
Burbank by reducing secondary growth (knobs). Across years, MH had no impact on ER or yield
from Ranger R. Effects on sprout inhibition were cultivar and timing dependent. Prior to full-scale
adoption of nontraditional additives, growers should seek product validation from peer-reviewed
research and replicated on-farm trials. Growers should also note that MH effects on ER, market
yield, and sprout inhibition are cultivar dependent and, to prevent revenue losses, avoid using
MH on cultivars that react poorly.
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Details
- Title
- Economic returns from nontraditional additives and maleic hydrazide infrequently justify application on potato (Solanum tuberosum) in the Columbia Basin
- Creators
- Colton Ray Thurgood
- Contributors
- Mark Joseph Pavek (Degree Supervisor) - Washington State University, Horticulture, Department ofNORMAN R KNOWLES (Committee Member) - Washington State University, UNKNOWNTIMOTHY DAVID WATERS (Committee Member) - Washington State University, WSU Extension ANR
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Horticulture, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 74
- Identifiers
- 99900590461201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis