Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) yield response to simulated hail damage

Yield loss in potato damaged by hail is mainly caused by reduced leaf area and plant stand. A 2-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of simulated hail damage on potato yield. The treatments were six levels of defoliation (control, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%) and five defoliation times (2, 5, 8, 11 and 14 weeks after emergence). The experiment was set up in a randomized block design with four replications, and the treatments were arranged as a factorial. From the perspective of yield loss, the most important time of defoliation, for mild and intense defoliation, respectively, were 8-11 and 5-11 weeks after emergence. The period between 5 and 8 weeks includes the stages of tuber initiation and tuber growth; the stages most sensitive to removal of aerial parts. Regardless of defoliation intensity, the production of small potatoes mostly occurred when defoliation occurred at 2 and 5 weeks. Plants were able to recover from any level of defoliation if it occurred at an early stage. In summary, yield reduction was little influenced by intensity of defoliation, but the timing of defoliation was evidently the most important factor.