Project

Modelling potatoes’ response to drought and heat

We want to model the effects of extreme climate events, such as heatwaves and drought, on potato production and quality in the field. Heatwaves and drought will become more frequent and intense in the future. An improved potato model is necessary to study mitigation and adaptation strategies under the future climate. We will conduct field experiments in hot and dry environments. The data will be used to improve the WOFOST Potato model.

The PhD project focuses on both gradual and ‘extreme’ aspects of climate change and aims to contribute to the following set of objectives:

  • To compare the effects of (linear and) non-linear aspects of climate change on potato yield and quality using experiments in two or more irrigated (hot and arid) locations, in collaboration with McCain and its local partners.
  • To assess how the effects of climate change (linear and non-linear) can be mitigated using packages of adaptation practices (planting dates, timing of nitrogen application, variety maturity, etc.),
  • Can we make optimum combinations of practices for different current and future environments?
  • What do we optimise for (yield, quality, robustness, ...) and what are the trade-offs?
  • What are crop ideotypes that would minimise these trade-offs?
  • To explore future potato variety ideotypes (including quality standards) and potato growing regions, and to identify the best existing region/cultivar combinations by converting the standards for potato processing into physiological characteristics and then into ideotypes for specific growing areas.

The project builds on a combination of designated experiments, case studies and innovative modelling tools. The primary output are four scientific articles, but in addition the project should provide tangible results and recommendations that can support the McCain business in the short term (before 2025).