Inorganic soils of the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys planted potatoes often crust in early spring. Crust strength and thickness are conditioned by the amount and intensity of rainfall, soil clod stability, and rate of drying of the soil surface. In the past there has not been much information about the extent to which crust development can affect plant performance. In the spring of 1970 the effects of severe soil crusting upon potato plant emergence and development were observed and recorded at Shatter.

This progress report is based on Research Project No. H-1665.