Download The Nutrition of Potatoes in Western Canada

Knowledge grows
The Nutrition of Potatoes
in Western Canada
Contents
Crop Knowledge, Potato Nutritional Needs....................................................................... 1
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium.................................................................................. 2
Calcium...................................................................................................................3-4
Magnesium, Sulphur, Micronutrients, Boron.................................................................... 5
Copper, Iron, Manganese, Zinc...................................................................................... 6
Portfolio Combinations, YaraLiva , YaraVita .................................................................... 7
®
®
Megalab , Yara CheckIT , Yara TankmixIT ..................................................................... 9
TM
TM
®
Crop Nutrition Programs.......................................................................................... 10-11
Crop Knowledge
Yara has extensive crop nutrition knowledge as a result of
more than 100 years of research and development in more
than 150 countries around the world. In recent years several
best practice documents have been developed to consolidate
Yara’s agronomic expertise on many key global crops. Our
trial database stores proven results from research conducted
throughout the world. Following extensive research and field
trials, the company’s expertise has been brought together into
a comprehensive Plantmaster publication series. This Potato
Nutrition Brochure contains a short overview and expands on
some of the information contained in the Potato Plantmaster.
The availability of key nutrients such as phosphorus and
micronutrients such as iron, manganese, and zinc is reduced on
alkaline soils.
Potato Nutritional Needs
Optimum potato nutrition is essential for good plant health
and top tuber yields. All nutrients must be available in the
soil solution or through foliar applications to provide sufficient
concentration in the plant.
Potatoes require 17 different nutrients, each playing it’s unique
role in plant nutrition. Good potato nutrition is similar to any
good team. A successful team is comprised of members that
each bring different attributes to the team and each member
contributes to the success of the team. Each essential nutrient
contributes to yield by fulfilling specific functions within the
plant.
Nitrogen, potassium, and calcium are required in large
amounts for good potato health. Phosphorus, magnesium and
sulphur are required in lesser amounts and micronutrients are
required in much smaller concentrations. Regardless of how
much of a particular nutrient is required by the potato crop, a
deficiency of any nutrient will reduce potato yield and quality.
Potatoes have a smaller rooting system than crops like cereals
which reduces the soil volume from which potatoes extract
nutrients. Wheat and barley roots will grow as much as four
feet into the soil while potatoes roots are concentrated in the
top two feet of the soil. In addition, potatoes have far fewer
fine roots than many other crops which further limits their
ability to take up nutrients from the soil.
Potatoes take up substantial quantities of nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium. Failure to replace the nutrients
taken up from the soil and removed from the field in the tubers
will reduce the soil levels of those nutrients. Mining the soil is
unsustainable and will ultimately lead to reduced soil quality,
crop yields, and farmer profitability.
Nutrient uptake by potato tubers and leaves and stems
at various yield levels.
200 cwt/acre
Leaves
& Stems
Tubers
400 cwt/acre
Leaves &
Stems
Tubers
600 cwt/acre
Leaves &
Stems
Tubers
Lbs/acre
N
40
60
80
120
120
180
P2O5
10
30
20
60
30
90
K2O
60
130
120
260
180
390
Based on IPNI nutrient uptake calculator
Soil pH affects nutrient availability and the incidence and
severity of some important diseases of potatoes. Alkaline,
calcareous soils create special challenges for potato farmers.
Yara I 1
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Nitrogen is a part of structural and functional proteins in the
potato plant, such as DNA and RNA, and it is a component
of chlorophyll, the photosynthetic factory in the leaves that
converts sunlight into sugar. Less nitrogen means a smaller
factory and reduced yields. Nitrogen is mobile within a plant
so a deficiency of nitrogen is manifested in older leaves where
nitrogen is moved to younger leaves.
Phosphorus contributes to better root growth and is a key
component in energy production and transfer in cells. Cell
membranes as well as DNA and RNA contain phosphorus.
Phosphorus is mobile in the plant so deficiencies are expressed
on older leaves. Phosphorus availability is reduced in alkaline
soils where the pH is greater than 7.5 and in cold, wet soils
and this can lead to deficiency during early spring growth when
the stage is set for top yield. Sufficient phosphorus availability
is also important during tuber initiation and tuber bulking.
Research has shown that potato yields are often increased by
starter fertilizers with phosphorus, even on soils that test “high”
in phosphorus.
In the study below, supplying potatoes with increasing
percentage of nitrate rather than ammonium increased tuber
yields at three rates of nitrogen. The nitrogen in YaraLiva
calcium nitrate is essentially all nitrate-nitrogen (94%), which
is immediately available to potatoes even in cold soils. The
ammonium can come from fertilizers such as ammonium
sulfate or from urea. In addition, do not apply more than 100
lbs N/acre as urea in the hill at planting because the potential
for ammonia injury.
Rel. tuber yield
1
Phosphorus also increases tuber number as shown in this
UK research.
Tubers / 3ft of row
Potatoes require substantial amounts of nitrogen to achieve
their genetic potential. The crop demand for nitrogen is based
on the expected tuber yield, variety, and intended use. The
typical nitrogen demand will range from 200 - 280 lbs N/acre
for processing potatoes while about half that much nitrogen
is commonly applied on seed and fresh market potatoes. The
nitrogen fertilizer needed by the crop will be reduced by the
nitrogen released from soil organic matter and nitrogen already
in the soil.
60
55
50
45
40
0
45
90
180
Lbs P2O5/acre
360
From Jenkins and Ali., 2000
Potassium
Potatoes take up large amounts of potassium, more than
nitrogen, and potassium plays a key role in water relations and
good overall plant health.
0.95
0.9
Potassium is found throughout the plant but it does not
become incorporated into plant structures or tissues. Potassium
deficiency symptoms first appear as the edges and tips of
the lower leaves become yellow and necrotic. Eventually, the
marginal yellowing spreads between the veins and leaf margins
curl upward. Leaves wither and collapse prematurely.
0.85
0.8
0a.75
0.7
0.65
0.6
80% NH4/20% NO3
50% NH4/50% NO3
20% NH4/80% NO3
Total N (lbs N/acre)
110
2 | Yara
160
215
From Ochilea et al., 2000
Farmers have several choices for potassium fertilizer for
potatoes. Farmers have successfully used muriate of potash
(MOP or potassium chloride) and potassium magnesium
sulphate where there is sufficient rainfall or irrigation to remove
the salt and chloride from the soil.
Calcium
Calcium is often under-valued but it is a critically important
nutrient in potato production. Calcium is involved in many
physiological functions such as cell division, cell wall integrity,
water regulation, and stress signaling. Adequate cell division
is paramount for ensuring maximum tuber yield, as well
as promoting shoot and root elongation, especially the
development of feeder roots and roots hairs. Calcium is “fixed”
in the middle lamella of cells walls and aids structure and
stability. This is important in helping to provide a physical
barrier against pathogens, and calcium also inhibits the
enzymes produced by fungi and bacteria that degrade cell
walls. In water regulation, calcium is necessary to “forward”
the drought signal from the roots to the upper leaves of
potato plant which causes the stomata on the leaves to close.
Adequate soluble calcium is necessary for the proper execution
of all these functions helps to ensure the production of high
quality potatoes.
Adequate calcium reduces physiological disorders such internal
brown spot and hollow heart, reduces bruising, and reduces
plant diseases.
Calcium applied
Lbs/acre
Peel calcium
Internal
brown spot
--------------------%--------------------
Applying 150 lbs of calcium/acre as a combination of YaraLiva
calcium nitrate and calcium chloride reduced bruising in five
common potato varieties.
50
40
Bruising (%)
Many soils contain adequate amounts of total calcium, but
most of the calcium is tied up in insoluble forms such as
calcium carbonate or calcium sulphate and there is very little
soluble calcium – the only form of calcium that is available to
potatoes.
30
20
10
0
Snowden
CN, CaCI
Burbank
Superior
Norland
From Karisson and Palta, 2003
In 2016, Yara Canada conducted 15 field trials in New
Brunswick and Prince Edward Island comparing YaraLiva
calcium nitrate to the grower standard fertilizer practice. On
average, YaraLiva increased potato yield by 41 cwt/acre.
Yield (cwt/ac)
500
400
300
295
336
200
0
0.11
60
75
0.13
37
100
225
0.15
17
0
From Tzeng et al. 1986
Atlanta
Ammonium Nitrate
Check avg
Calcium Nitrate avg
2016 field trials in PEI and NB
Yara I 3
Good calcium nutrition also reduced soft rot (Erwinia
carotovora) of potatoes in storage.
Calcium must be placed in the soil where it is available to
the stolons and tubers because calcium uptake is primarily
by stolons, stolon roots, and directly by the developing
tuber. Dyed water was used to simulate calcium uptake and
movement in field grown potatoes. Notice that the colored
water taken up the main plant roots did not go to the tuber
(left photo). In contrast, the dyed water taken up by the stolons
and stolon roots was moved to the tuber (right photo).
0.6
70
0.5
60
0.4
50
40
0.3
30
Peel Ca (%)
Tuber wt loss (%)
80
0.2
20
0.1
10
0
0
| |||| ||
250
500
1000 2000 3000 6000 12000
0
Solution Calcium (mg/l)
Weight Loss
Peel Ca
From McGuire and Kelman, 1984
Photos courtesy of J. Palta
Seed crop fertilization
At planting
2 weeks after
emergence
Lbs calcium/acre
0
Commercial crop yield
0
US #1 4-6 oz.
US #1 > 6 oz.
Total
Cwt/acre
%
Cwt/acre
%
Cwt/acre
266
34
406
52
782
24
0
256
29
506
58
879
0
20
306
35
439
50
874
0
40
288
34
442
52
853
From Holland, 1999
Good calcium nutrition is especially important for seed potato
production. Field research has demonstrated that fertilizing the
seed potato crop with YaraLiva calcium nitrate increased the
yield of the commercial crop. Applying YaraLiva calcium nitrate
to the seed potato crop at planting or at two weeks after
4 | Yara
emergence increased total yield by an average of more than
85 cwt/acre and increased US #1 tubers that weighed more
than 6 oz. by an average of 56 cwt/acre. The commercial crop
was fertilized uniformly; the yield difference was due to the
superior calcium nutrition in the seed potatoes.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a key component of chlorophyll and up to
20% of the magnesium in plants is found in chlorophyll. In
addition, magnesium helps contribute to cell wall integrity
and activates many plant enzymes. Magnesium is therefore
important throughout the whole growing season. Magnesium is
mobile within plants so a deficiency is evident on older tissues
and is often expressed as interveinal chlorosis sometimes
accompanied by upward cupping.
limited value and foliar applications or combinations of soil and
foliar applications may be more effective. In contrast, YaraVita
Procote impregnated onto granular fertilizer exhibits greater
micronutrient uptake compared to other granular micronutrient
fertilizers.
It is important to maintain the correct balance between
potassium and magnesium for optimum potato yield and
quality. Research and farmer experience indicate that the
magnesium concentration in the soil should be at least 10%
of the potassium concentration while 20% is optimum;
however, where soil nutrient correction is difficult or expensive
foliar application of magnesium is a good alternative. Some
authorities recommend that the magnesium concentration be
even greater.
Boron plays a critical role in root and shoot growth, plant
development, and pollination. Soil should be tested for boron
and monitored to ensure an adequate supply is available to the
potato crop from planting until late tuber bulking. Along with
potassium, calcium and magnesium, boron is an important
element present in the cell wall. Here it acts as a cement
between pectins, providing cohesive strength for cell tissues.
Therefore boron affects tuber storage quality characteristics.
Boron stabilizes calcium in the cell wall and acts in synergy
with calcium to improve plant resistance to disease, pest and
environmental stresses. Boron helps promote carbohydrate
transport from potato plant tops to tubers. Applications of
boron have been found to increase calcium levels in the tubers.
Sulphur
Sulphur and nitrogen go hand-in-hand, and both are needed
for structural and functional proteins, DNA, and RNA. Sulphur
is taken up as the sulphate ion (SO4=) and like nitrate, sulphate
can be leached from the surface soil. Most sulphur in soil
is found in the organic fraction of the soil, so soils with low
organic matter are more likely to exhibit sulphur deficiency.
Sulphate forms of sulphur are immediately available to the crop
whereas elemental sulphur must be converted to the sulphate
form by microorganisms in the soil.
Micronutrients
Micronutrients, including boron, copper, iron, manganese,
and zinc are needed in low concentrations by potatoes, but a
deficiency of any of these essential nutrients can reduce yield
and quality and affect overall crop health. In many cases, soil
applications of conventional granular micronutrients may be of
Boron
Tuber Calcium Levels
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Mid-season
At Harvest
Control
2 x 11 Bortrac 150
Ref: Hilbrands Laboratory, 1997
Yara I 5
Copper
Zinc
Copper is a constituent of enzymes involved in carbohydrate
and protein metabolism and it serves as a catalyst in
photosynthesis and respiration. Copper is immobile within
plants and the deficiency is shown as stunted growth, dieback
of terminal growth, and wilting and eventual death of leaf tips.
Copper deficiency occurs most commonly on sandy soils and
soils with high organic matter content.
Zinc’s primary function is synthesis of indoleacetic acid, a
key plant hormone, energy metabolism and protein. Zinc
is mobile within plants so a deficiency is observed in older
tissues. Symptoms of zinc deficiency include decrease in stem
and shoot growth, rosetting of terminal growth, interveinal
chlorosis, and smaller leaves.
Iron
Iron is essential for chlorophyll formation and enzyme activation
in plants. Iron is immobile within plants so an iron deficiency
is expressed by interveinal chlorosis with green veins in young
leaves. Iron is less available on high pH soils or when high
levels of zinc or manganese are present. Soil testing for iron is
of limited value as is leaf analysis.
Manganese
Manganese plays a role in chlorophyll synthesis and it is a
critical component in the chlorophyll molecule itself; it also
is responsible for activation of plant enzymes. Manganese is
immobile within the plant so a deficiency appears in young
tissue; a deficiency appears as interveinal chlorosis on young
leaves.
6 | Yara
Application of granular zinc often has a limited effect while
application of Procote Zinc and/or application of foliar zinc offer
superior results.
Portfolio combinations
YaraVita
®
The Yara brand sets the standard in fertilizer quality. The aim is
to provide consistency from load to load and from year to year.
All Yara products are formulated to the declaration and the
analysis is guaranteed, giving confidence that “What is on the
label is what you get”.
YaraVita is the global brand name for Yara’s range of
micronutrients. The essence of YaraVita is attention to detail
and this pays dividends when planning crop nutrition programs.
Optimum crop yield and quality require application of the right
micronutrients at the right time.
The following potato programs are Yara’s recommendations to
help farmers achieve a larger potato crop. These programs will
help assure a healthier crop, larger yield and superior quality
which means more profitability for the farmer.
All YaraVita products are formulated to ensure crop safety
and plant availability of the micronutrients. Yara products
are reliable and undergo extensive testing prior to being
recommended to various crops.
YaraLiva
YaraVita products recommended for the different potato crop
stages:
YaraLiva is the global brand name for Yara’s calcium
nitrate fertilizers, including YaraLiva TROPICOTE, YaraLiva
NITRABOR and YaraLiva CALCINIT dry fertilizers. The essence
of YaraLiva is quality. These calcium nitrate-based products
generally improve the quality of potato tubers. YaraLiva keeps
your crop healthier longer, improving shelf life, firmness,
strength and the overall appearance of the crop.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
®
YaraLiva provides nitrogen and calcium that are immediately
available for plants. Nitrate is the nitrogen form directly
available for plant uptake. It is non-volatile and not adsorbed
to soil particles, leaving it readily available to plants. YaraLiva
TROPICOTE and NITRABOR are the preferred nitrogen
sources for most horticultural and high value agricultural
crops, because nitrate improves the plant uptake of the
cations potassium, calcium and magnesium. The calcium
from YaraLiva TROPICOTE and NITRABOR improves cell
wall strength and cell membrane integrity, leading to better
quality, longer shelf life and increasing marketable crop yields.
Greater cell wall strength and membrane integrity also help
potatoes better tolerate stresses such as diseases, moisture,
heat and cold, and salinity. In addition, the calcium in YaraLiva
TROPICOTE and NITRABOR helps to maintain an optimum
root environment for high yielding crops.
YaraVita
YaraVita
YaraVita
YaraVita
YaraVita
YaraVita
YaraVita
YaraVita
YaraVita
YaraVita
AGRIPOTASH
BORTRAC
COPTRAC
HYDROMAG
HYDROPHOS
GLYTREL ZNP
LAST-N
MANTRAC
SENIPHOS
ZINTRAC
Yara I 7
Application Competence
Megalab
Yara TankmixIT
Scientific based reporting system offering interpretation and
recommendations specific for a field based on petiole test
results.
Yara TankmixIT is a downloadable
app that is used to check the
physical compatibility of YaraVita
micronutrients when mixed with
many common crop pesticides.
TankmixIT allows better planning
of spray programs and spraying
opportunities with most of
the YaraVita range. Each tank
mix test is carried out under
controlled conditions in our
product development laboratories
following BS EN ISO 9001:2000
guidelines and represents an
accurate assessment of the physical
compatibility of each mixture made.
TM
Yara CheckIT
TM
CheckIT is an app from Yara
that lets you optimize crop yield
and quality through quick and
easy identification of nutrient
deficiencies using high resolution
images. The free app offers
tailored recommendations to
correct deficiencies. It’s available
in app stores for iPad and
iPhone, Android and Windows
phones.
®
Of course, there are many variables
that affect tank mixes under field
conditions that can influence the
mixability of any mixture made.
Yara TankmixIT is just a guide, not a guarantee of either
physical or biological compatibility.
Yara I 9
Potato, Processing Crop Nutrition Program
Crop Stage
Nutrient(s)
Urea
N
UAN 28%
N
YaraVera
AMIDAS
YaraLiva
TROPICOTE
N & Ca
CN-9
N & Ca
®
®
TM
N&S
TM
Preplant
Planting
Muriate of potash
K
100% of crop K2O need
Soil applied products
Tuber Bulking
25-50% of crop Ca need fertigated
100% of crop P2O5 need
®
Tuber Initiation
75-85% of crop N need; 100% of crop S need;
50-75% of crop Ca need
P
YaraVita
Vegetative growth
15-25% of crop N need fertigated
MAP AND/OR 10-34-0
(0-0-60)
Hilling
P
HYDROPHOS or
SOLATREL
K
AGRIPOTASH or
SAFE K
Mg
HYDROMAG
Foliar applied products
Fertigated products
B
PROCOTE B on granular fertilizer
BORTRAC
Zn
PROCOTE Zn on granular fertilizer
GLYTREL ZNP
Potato, Seed Crop Nutrition Program
Crop Stage
Nutrient(s)
Urea
N
UAN 28%
N
YaraVera
AMIDAS
YaraLiva
TROPICOTE
N & Ca
CN-9
N & Ca
®
®
TM
N&S
TM
Preplant
Planting
Muriate of potash
K
100% of crop K2O need
HYDROPHOS or SOLATREL
P
AGRIPOTASH or
SAFE K
K
Soil applied products
Tuber Bulking
25-50% of crop Ca need fertigated
100% of crop P2O5 need
®
Tuber Initiation
15-25% of crop N need fertigated
P
YaraVita
Vegetative growth
75-85% of crop N need; 100% of crop S need;
50-75% of crop Ca need
MAP AND/OR 10-34-0
(0-0-60)
Hilling
HYDROMAG
Mg
Foliar applied products
Fertigated products
10 | Yara
B
PROCOTE B on granular fertilizer
BORTRAC
Zn
PROCOTE Zn on granular fertilizer
GLYTREL ZnP
Potato, Fresh Crop Nutrition Program
Crop Stage
Nutrient(s)
Urea
N
UAN 28%
N
YaraVera
AMIDAS
YaraLiva
TROPICOTE
N & Ca
CN-9
N & Ca
®
®
TM
N&S
TM
Preplant
Planting
Muriate of potash
K
100% of crop K2O need
HYDROPHOS or SOLATREL
P
AGRIPOTASH or
SAFE K
K
Soil applied products
Tuber Bulking
25-50% of crop Ca need fertigated
100% of crop P2O5 need
®
Tuber Initiation
15-25% of crop N need fertigated
P
YaraVita
Vegetative growth
75-85% of crop N need; 100% of crop S need;
50-75% of crop Ca need
MAP AND/OR 10-34-0
(0-0-60)
Hilling
HYDROMAG
Mg
Foliar applied products
Fertigated products
B
PROCOTE B on granular fertilizer
BORTRAC
Zn
PROCOTE Zn on granular fertilizer
GLYTREL ZnP
Specific application rates and timing based on recommendations from a qualified agronomic consultant
Hydrophos and solatrel at tuber initiation will increase tuber numbers and may reduce tuber size
Yara I 11
NOTES
NOTES
For further information contact: Yara Canada, Inc.
www.yaracanada.ca