Optimizing Deficit Irrigation Management to Improve Potato Yield, Quality and Water Use Efficiency: A Review

Potatoes, as a vital staple crop, are integral to maintaining food supply and economic resilience. In China, they are predominantly grown in arid and semi-arid zones, where water scarcity and limited precipitation hinder sustainable cultivation. Deficit irrigation has emerged as a practical approach to enhancing water use efficiency while sustaining desirable yields and tuber quality. Nonetheless, current literature reveals gaps in understanding the physiological and agronomic responses of potatoes under such water-limited conditions. This review synthesizes existing findings on how deficit irrigation influences potato yield and quality, and examines strategies to improve irrigation management. It also outlines potential directions for future investigations, aiming to offer theoretical support for efficient potato farming in drought-prone regions.