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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Orono, Maine » New England Plant, Soil and Water Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #185294
Title: AN ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF RAISED BEDS AND USE OF GREEN-SPROUTED SEED TUBERS IN THE MAINE POTATO CROPPING SYSTEM

Author
item Halloran, John
item Honeycutt, Charles
item ESSAH, S.Y. - COLORADO STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Northeast Potato Technology Forum Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2005
Publication Date: 3/15/2005
Citation: Halloran, J.M., Honeycutt, C.W., Essah, S.C. 2005. An economic evaluation of raised beds and use of green-sprouted seed tubers in the Maine potato cropping system. Northeast Potato Technology Forum Abstracts. March 2005, p. 12.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Management practices that accelerate crop development and allow earlier plant establishment would be beneficial in short-season potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production areas. A two year study in northern Maine was conducted to determine the yield and quality effects on the cultivar Russet Burbank attributable to tillage system and seed sprouting treatments. In this analysis two tillage systems, consisting of fall raised bed (RB), and spring chisel plow (CH) in combination with non-sprouted seed and green-sprouted seed, are compared. For the purpose of the economic analysis fall raised beds with green sprouted seed is compared to the spring chisel plow tillage system and non-sprouted strategy as this represents the industry standard. To determine the potential economic efficacy of fall raised beds and green sprouted tubers partial budgeting analysis was used. Partial budgeting is employed to evaluate small changes to a production system with respect to system profitability. Under the cost and yield assumptions used, a five percent increase in yields is necessary to justify the adoption of green-sprouted tuber in raised beds. The key costs parameters are sufficient space to produce the green spouted seed and racking system to handle the tubers.