More or less irrigated on the potatoes?

Due to the drought during planting and the persistent drought when the potatoes were tuber set, most growers were often irrigating. Was more irrigated on the plots of the in 2019 or in 2020? Boerenbusiness Crop tour?

In the table below you can see how often it rained this year and last year. 

_{*Not possible to irrigate in Scharendijke}

Precipitation at crucial moments last year
Last year, at the crucial moments, precipitation fell on the plot in Scharendijke. It is not possible to irrigate here, which made this very welcome. "In the beginning, nothing came of precipitation this year, we currently have a lot of foliage on the potatoes, but not many on the potatoes," says the grower. If there is still some precipitation in the summer, it is possible that the kilos will still come.

In Someren there was less rain than last year. This year the irrigation was mainly for tuber setting. In 2019, irrigated more often against the heat and for the growth of the potatoes. "This year we planted the potatoes closer together. Due to the rainfall and the closer planting we expect a good yield," says the grower.

Not good for the structure
The grower from Fijnaart has irrigated once, both this and last year. "I don't want to irrigate too much. I notice on plots that the structure can change considerably and this can have adverse consequences. Because of this I want to irrigate as little as possible." The grower believes that irrigation should not be necessary during a 'normal' summer. However, the grower is aware that if these summers become the new normal, he will have to water more often to provide the potatoes with moisture.

Not necessary this year
The growers from Ens and Appelscha have not yet irrigated this year. Both are of the opinion that it has not been necessary until now. "I did invest in an irrigation machine this year. However, I don't think it was necessary to use it this year," the grower from Appelscha tells. Boerenbusiness. 

Most reels working during tuber setting
Most growers have been irrigating during the tuber setting of the potato. Last year, more was irrigated against the heat and drought on the plots. "I watered twice this year and last year. This year for the tuber setting and against the heat, while last year I only started watering against the heat and for growth. The big difference compared to 2 is that I rained earlier this year should be like in 2019."

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