b'ROUNDTABLEA larger plant population may requiremore waterHow well does your canopy close the rows on 36-inch? Would closer rows shade the groundbetter, reducing evaporation?Higher plant populations per acre generally get you higher yields.But seed costs increase, and waterneeds may increase, so higher economic returns are not a guarantee.It is possible that some combination of row width and in-row spacing different from the one you use now may being better economic return without requiring more irrigation. Row width research is needed in your growing region.Row OrientationPavek and his team conducted a separate study into whether row orientation matters. While slope, field shape and obstructions can sometimes limit choices for plantingSummer Solstice, Pacific Northwestdaily sun path and associated angles.direction, those growers who are able should consider their directional options.Across six field years (2015-2020), Pavek and his team planted four russetthese different directions in average tuberyoure still getting light in. It does make a potato varieties in north-south, northwest- weight, Pavek said.difference, he said.southeast, northeast-southwest andHowever, when he looked at total andSolar radiation is free and only a fraction west-east orientations, assessing yield andmarket yield, there was a clear cost to oneof it is captured by crops. Manipulating economic return.planting direction.planting direction to improve the efficiency Emerged potato plants in a row areGuess what? The row orientation withwith which crops capture sunlight is a bunched up like a hedge. Before rows close,the most shadow throughout the day, east/ promising strategy for improving crop youre getting a lot of your sunlight on eachwest, had a lower market and total yield andproductivity. side of the row and on top, he explained.the others were all about the same when weHave additional questions about this Since the plant uses that sunlight to createtook statistics into account. Anything withwebinar? Want to share comments? energy, more sunlight and less shade meansnorth or south in the direction did betterWould you be interested in sharing your more energy to put towards growth andthan just east to west, and that was across allknowledge via a webinar? Wed love to ultimate yield.varieties. hear from you. Reach out to marketing@So, the team measured the amount ofWhen he applied economics to theseedworldgroup.com. sunlight on both sides and the top of eachcalculation, east to west delivered the lowest row. All row with some version of north/ gross returns15 per cent lower than south orientation (NS, NW/SE, NE/SW),the north-south comparableacross all showed dramatically more sunlight capturevarieties.across the entire plant than the east-westRemember, when youre in a canopy orientation, which had good light collectionand youre a leaf looking for light, any place on the south side of the row but low lightlight can get in, its going to get in. Thats collection on the north side. important. Thats why direction of planting How does this translate to yield?is not important only before the rows close,Watch the entire webinar now!There was no significant difference acrossbut even after your canopy closes the rows,youtube.com/watch?v=m5lIXljINa856SPUDSMART.COMSpring 2024'