b"Under irrigation, heat stress during the tuber initiation stage significantly increased the occurrence of sliver patch by 30 per cent and decreased the likelihood for normal-skinned tubers by around 43 per cent in 2021. Dark Red Norlands under heat stress at the tuber skinset stage without irrigation formed more suberized cell layers in the tuber skins. Greenhouse data indicated a higher incidence of normal-skinned tubers when plants were grown in a cooler greenhouse. Tubers positioned in the top and side positions in pots showed more sliver patches on skins compared with those in the centre of the pots. More silver patch was found on the bottom half of the harvested tubers in the greenhouse trials. Jiang noted this study could potentially help potato growers improve tuber skin quality and minimize market loss.Increasing Profitability with VariableRate Seed SpacingTo improve sustainable potato production through better managed crop inputs, its important to understand soil characteristics. Soil, Evan MacDonald, a PhD student at the University of Prince Water and Topography Maps (SWAT MAPS) using electrical Edward Island conductivity (EC) information about soil can map out differences in soil texture, water holding capacity, soil organic matter and more. This information can allow for site-specific production management including variable rate (VR) seeding of potatoes.Current potato planting technology allows for automatic adjustments to seed and fertilizer rates according to management zones within the field. VR seeding allows for increased profit margins by managing risks and lowering production costs in poorer preforming areas of a field while at the same time maximizing production in areas with greater soil potential. Six fields in P.E.I. were studied over 2021 and 2022 by Evan MacDonald and Aitazaz Farooque. It was found that VR seed spacing of potatoes can increase profits by $300 per acre. VR seeding and fortification can also help mitigate environmental impacts of fertilizer over application in low productivity areas of fields. MacDonald notes this will help growers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions making for more sustainable potato production.I've heard from some growers, Well your numbers look good because they're good years. But I would argue that you're probably going to see more benefit on the dry year by spacing things out a little bit further on our sandy knolls, MacDonald, a PhD student at the University of P.E.I., explained during his presentation.28SPUDSMART.COMFall 2023"