UK potato farmer network update

Eastern and north-eastern England are important potato-growing regions that are more susceptible to drought than others. They also tend to grow on sandy or sandy-loam soils. Therefore, optimal water management and efficiency are important factors, which the farmers continuously seek and monitor to ensure more successful cropping systems and productivity. Whilst recognising that water is a limited resource, farmers stated that typical practices in conventional potato cropping systems rely heavily on water management and inputs, and this is an area that is becoming more difficult to manage. Farmers in the UK network therefore expressed their interest in exploring strategies and innovations for improved water use efficiency.

For this reason, the SolACE on-farm trials carried out in 2020 were designed to address water-use efficiency. They measured agronomic data from irrigated and non-irrigated conditions, representing control and water-stressed scenarios respectively. In conjunction, microbial innovations were incorporated into trials, comparing their effect on crop productivity in the two comparable experimental conditions. A commercial microbial inoculum product was used in trials on two commercial farms, whilst one of the SolACE microbial products was used at trails on an organic farm and Newcastle University’s farm. A range of modern and heritage varieties have been experimented with, including Saxon, Rooster and Premier. Selection of varieties were chosen to represent what farmers would usually grow and sell to markets for a range in harvest-times.

The 2020 trials provided mixed results. For example, results from trials on one commercial farm showed positive trends across all three varieties that were grown. Potato yields improved under irrigation with the commercial microbial inoculant applied, as opposed to no irrigation without the microbial inoculant present. Trial results from the second commercial farm, growing different varieties, showed no change or hampered yields with application of the same commercial microbial inoculant in irrigated conditions. 

Results from the 2020 trials using SolACE inoculants on organic farms were also mixed. For instance, application of SolACE inoculants increased yields and tuber weight in the Violeta variety, but reduced yields and tuber weight in Red Emily and Mayan Twilight varieties, and increased the number of tubers per plant.

This year, the trials will be replicated, with some changes in the selection of potato varieties. Whilst giving consistency and integrity to our work, we hope 2021 trials will also provide further insight for interpretation of results.

Network meetings and visits to farms were held in 2020, where data were collected, results were shared, and experiences discussed. Visits and meetings are being arranged for 2021. We hope to visit and collect data on trial farms and hold a network meeting in person.

A video to disseminate the UK network and its work in the project is also being planned, with the aim to share knowledge of the project to a wider audience. This will be completed by the end of the year and include interviews with farmers and researchers from Newcastle University.