THE EFFECT OF RIDGE HEIGHT AND HARVEST DATE ON EDIBLE POTATO TUBER QUALITY

A. Bombik, D. Stopa, K. Rymuza, K. Starczewski, Z. Pawlonka

Abstract: The work presents results of a three-year study undertaken to assess the effect of ridge height and harvest date, determined based on soil temperature, on edible potato tuber quality. A field experiment was arranged as a split-split-plot design with four replicates. Environmental conditions during the growing season, cultivar, and harvest date had a substantial influence on dry matter and starch contents as well as cooking attributes of potato tubers. Starch and dry matter contents were affected by the study years, cultivar and harvest date, the highest levels being found for cv Romula tubers as well as tubers harvested at the soil temperature of 12°C. Cv Sante tubers and tubers harvested at the soil temperature of 12°C, whether raw or cooked darkened least. As the ridge height increased, after-cooking darkening declined and flavour improved.

Keywords: after-cooking darkening; darkening of raw flesh; dry matter content; potato tuber flavour; starch content

Date published: 2017-09-14