Integrated assessment of agroclimatic hazards, yield shocks, and water-management adaptation in potato production
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Lecture Hall L5, Linnanmaa Campus
Topic of the dissertation
Integrated assessment of agroclimatic hazards, yield shocks, and water-management adaptation in potato production
Doctoral candidate
Master of Science Mojtaba Saboori
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Technology, Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering
Subject of study
Process and Environmental Engineering
Opponent
Professor Paul T. Gremillion, Northern Arizona University, USA
Custos
Professor Ali Torabi Haghighi, University of Oulu
Too much rain, too little water: New ways to protect potato production from climate extremes
Potato production faces a double challenge: too much water at some stages of the growing season and too little at others. A University of Oulu doctoral thesis shows that the timing and combination of weather extremes matter when identifying threats to harvests, particularly in northern farming regions.
The research combined six studies covering European climate patterns, crop yields and water management in Finland. Maps of temperature and combined rain–temperature extremes showed that northern European farming areas experience more cold-related conditions, while heat and hot–dry events are more prominent farther south. The research then compared weather records with potato harvests and identified conditions linked to unusually poor years. In Finland, excessive early- or late-season wetness and mid-summer water shortages emerged as important warning signals. The wider European analysis also compared potatoes with wheat and maize and found that the most relevant weather stresses differ between crops and regions.
The thesis then examined how farmers might respond. A model of the Temmesjoki river basin assessed collecting surplus drainage water during wet periods and storing it for dry spells. The results showed that appropriately sized storage could reduce water shortages, although the calculations were designed for planning rather than detailed construction. A separate study showed that soil moisture can be forecast several days ahead using recent measurements and weather information, offering potential support for deciding when irrigation may be needed.
Together, the findings can help identify local climate pressures and inform better water storage and irrigation planning. The research does not offer a ready-made irrigation system, but shows how climate data, harvest records and soil information can guide more resilient potato production.
The research combined six studies covering European climate patterns, crop yields and water management in Finland. Maps of temperature and combined rain–temperature extremes showed that northern European farming areas experience more cold-related conditions, while heat and hot–dry events are more prominent farther south. The research then compared weather records with potato harvests and identified conditions linked to unusually poor years. In Finland, excessive early- or late-season wetness and mid-summer water shortages emerged as important warning signals. The wider European analysis also compared potatoes with wheat and maize and found that the most relevant weather stresses differ between crops and regions.
The thesis then examined how farmers might respond. A model of the Temmesjoki river basin assessed collecting surplus drainage water during wet periods and storing it for dry spells. The results showed that appropriately sized storage could reduce water shortages, although the calculations were designed for planning rather than detailed construction. A separate study showed that soil moisture can be forecast several days ahead using recent measurements and weather information, offering potential support for deciding when irrigation may be needed.
Together, the findings can help identify local climate pressures and inform better water storage and irrigation planning. The research does not offer a ready-made irrigation system, but shows how climate data, harvest records and soil information can guide more resilient potato production.
Created 4.11.2026 | Updated 4.11.2026