Mathematical Modeling of Crop Water Production Functions for Potato

Abstract Crop water production functions (CWPFs), which describe the relationship between yield and water use, are of great importance in determining the economic value of irrigation, identifying different irrigation strategies, and determining optimum irrigation levels. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of Stewart, Jensen, Minhas, Blank, and Rao functions (CWPF) in predicting tuber yield in potato. Field studies were carried out in 2019 and 2020 in Bursa Yenişehir Vocational School Production Area. Water stress sensitivity indices of crop water production functions were determined using evapotranspiration and yield values in the first year. Tuber yield values simulated with crop water production functions were compared with tuber yield values measured in the field in 2020. Sensitivity indices of potato to water at four different growth stages were determined using five different plant water productivity models. Considering the sensitivity indices of potato to water in four different growth periods, it was determined that the yield formation period (Y) was the most sensitive to water. When the water stress sensitivity indices calculated for four different growth stages of potato were compared, the model of Minhas was recommended.