Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.

)
French: Pommes de terre; Spanish: Patatas; Italian: Patatas; German: Kartoffeln

Crop data
Annual, but some crops in some areas overwintered in the ground prior to harvesting.

Planted (tubers) spring to early summer; in some areas doublecropped in one season by
planting very early in spring, harvesting early - before full maturity - then again planting in
summer.

Planting from true potato seeds (TPS) occurs in parts of Africa, Asia and South America.
TPS can be sown directly into the field (although this has not developed beyond the
experimental stage) or sown to produce plants for transplanting into the field (a technique
which appears to be less favoured currently) or grown under controlled conditions to produce
high numbers of small tubers per unit area (minitubers) which are then grown on in the field
in a relatively traditional manner.

Flowers: some cultivars rarely, if ever, produce full flowers; others produce flowers but sterile
seed; whereas yet others produce flowers, fruits (commonly called berries) and viable seed.

Initiation of "daughter" tubers occurs 5-12 weeks after planting of "mother" tubers, presuming
these latter to have reached the end of their normal dormancy at planting and depending
upon the extent to which the mother tuber has been physiologically aged.

Plant density: 30 000-100 000 tubers/ha dependant on cultivar ("normal" range in temperate
conditions 30 000 - 60 000 tubers/ha). Within this range, planting density is varied according
to the final market requirement in tuber size, the availability of moisture (especially irrigation)
and, in some countries, the relative cost of seed tubers and ware (consumption) tubers.

Potatoes will grow on most soils but, where mechanical harvesting is operated, then lighter
and medium bodied soils cause less difficulty in harvesting when weather conditions are
adverse. Potatoes are grown on organic as well as mineral soils. Soil pH requirement:
minimum 5.5 but below about pH 4.8 growth is impaired. Alkaline conditions can adversely
affect skin quality and highly alkaline conditions can induce micronutrient deficiencies.

Continuous cropping with potatoes only occurs in a few special situations and therefore it is
normally necessary to strike a compromise in pH requirement between the needs of potatoes
and other rotational crops. In most mineral soil situations a compromise recommendation for
pH is 6.0-7.0. It is imprudent to apply lime immediately before a potato crop except in cases
of extreme acicidity.

The crop responds well to moisture; irrigation is commonplace where it is grown on any
scale. Irrigation at tuber initiation can affect the skin quality of daughter tubers by influencing
phytopathogens, either favourably or adversely according to conditions, and amount of
moisture present.

Nutrient uptake/removal
 Nutrient demand/uptake/removal - Macronutrients
Tuber Source kg/ha
yield
t/ha
N P2O5 K2O MgO CaO S Cl
100 Burton, 1989 250- 35- 350- 10- 10- 20- 20-
450 65 550 30 20 40 100
57.9 Anderson and 105 60 315 12 5 - -
Hewgill, 1978 (1.8)* (1.0) (5.4) (0.2) (0.08) - -
77.7 Evans, 1977 250 80 325 - - - -
(3.2) (1.0) (4.1)
90.0 ADAS (unpub- 306 93 487 19 8 - -
lished), 1976 (3.4) (1.0) (5.4) (0.2) (0.08)
50.0 Cooke, 1972 80 57 240 15 10 - -
(1.6) (1.1) (4.8) (0.3) (0.19)
46.1 Widowson and 154 47 290 - - - -
Penny, 1975 (3.3) (1.0) (6.2)
50.0 Cooke, 1974 180 25 200 15 10 20 -
(3.6) (0.5) (4.0) (0.3) (0.20) (0.4)
30.0 Wirsing, 1990 150 25 200 20 60 - -
(whole
plant) (5.0) (0.8) (6.7) (0.6) (2.0)
36.0 Smith, 1990
(tops) 58 8 112 22 40 6 -
(tubers) 153 32 209 16 5 10 -
211 40 321 38 45 16 -
(7.0) (1.3) (10.7) (1.3) (1.5) (0.5) -
Harris, 1978
quoting Kunkel (2.68) (0.62) (3.93) (0.27) (0.07) (0.21) -
et al., 1973
Bedin; Malet, 1989 (3.2) (1.6) (6.0) - - - -
* in brackets kg/t tubers

Nutrient demand/uptake/removal - Micronutrients

Tuber yield Source kg/ha
t/ha
Fe Mn Zn Cu B Mo
100 Burton, 1989 0.5-2 0.1-2 0.4 0.1-0.2 0.1-0.2 0.1
Harris, 1978 (0.042)* (0.0134) (0.018) (0.0014) (0.0062) -
quoting
Kunke et al.,
1973
* in brackets kg/t tubers

Plant analysis
 Plant analysis data - Macronutrients
Plant Growth Source % of dry matter
part stage
N P K Mg Ca S Na
Tuber 60 days Kunkel et 1.8 - - - - - -
al., 1973
195 1.4 - - - - - -
days
Foliage - Laughlin et 0.19- 0.16- - - - - -
al., 1974 3.8 0.25
Tuber Mature Painter and 1.16 - 1.47 0.084 0.019 - 0.022
Augustin,
1976
Tuber Mature Rexen, 1.23- - - - - - -
1976 1.50
Tuber Mature Kraus and - - - - 1.4-8.2 - -
Marschner,
1973
Aerial Actively ADAS, >3.5*s >0.2s - >2s >0.1s - - -
tissue growing 1990 <1.5d <1.5d
(unpublishe
d)
* s = satisfactory d = deficient

Plant analysis data - NO3 and micronutrients

Plant Growth Source ppm dry matter
part satge
NO3 Fe Cu Mn
Tuber Mature Painter and - 15.7 1.3 -
Augustin,
1976
Aerial Actively ADAS, 1990 - - - >30s*
tissue growing
(unpublished - - - <20d
)
Petiole Tuberisa Kleinkopf 15 000 - - -
tion und
(4th) Tuber Westerman, 15 000 - - -
growth
Maturati 1987 <10 000 - - -
on
* s = satisfactory d = deficient

Fertilizer recommendations
Available organic manures are normally applied before seedbed preparation and ploughed or
cultivated into the soil before planting. Frequently the nutritive value of such organic manures
is unknown, and generally the amounts used are not recorded. It has been suggested that
organic manures would enhance the water-holding capacity of the soil. However, pot
experiments reported by Harris (1960) indicated such effects to be small, whilst Holliday et
al.(1965) demonstrated yield benefits of up to 14 % from use of FYM in dry seasons.
Experiments carried out by ADAS in England during the 1970s and 1980s have indicated
that organic manures can have detrimental effects upon dry matter content (specific gravity)
of potatoes for processing.

Timing of application of fertilizers

N: Potatoes use large amounts of N, frequently more than the total applied as fertilizer
(Anderson & Hewgill, 1978). Normally all N is applied to the seedbed at planting but in cases
where leaching by rainfall is likely (e.g. on sandy soils) there are often benefits from applying
half in the seedbed and half at tuber initiation. On heavier soils in temperate areas the
benefits from splitting N application are less predictable.

P: generally best applied in spring.

K: Where large amounts (e.g. > 400 kg/ha K2O) are to be applied, they are probably better
split. Theory would suggest several months between the two applications, the last at or about
planting, but agricultural field practice suggests that 6-8 weeks between dressings in
temperate conditions is adequate. On all except the lightest or most K-deficient soils, there
appears to be no disadvantage in autumn application of K fertilizer followed by spring potato
planting.

Micronutrients: deficiences are usually most efficiently corrected by foliar application.

Preferred nutrient forms

N: usually as readily soluble materials.

P: generally as materials containing a high proportion of water-soluble phosphate applied at

or immediately prior to planting.

K: application as sulphate rather than chloride provides some small benefits in the form of
relative increases in tuber dry matter (specific gravity) and is most appropriate to potatoes
for processing. The chloride, however, through its effects on reducing tuber dry matter, has
beneficial effects in reducing tuber bruising at harvest, other factors being unchanged. Large
dressings of KCl at planting will have a deterious effect on crop emergence in dry soils.

Mg: can be applied as a foliar spray where deficiency symptoms occur in the absence of
extenuating circumstances (e.g. drought); more normally it would be applied in a Mg-
containing fertilizer or, as a routine on inherently Mg-deficient soils, in Mg-containing lime.

Fertilizer placement
Placement in close proximity but not in contact with seed tubers will produce more efficient
fertilizer use. The risks of damage to tubers increase in dry conditions, on light soils, where
pre-sprouted seed is planted, or where more than 250 kg/ha N plus K2O are applied
together.

Present fertilizer practices

The Netherlands

Seed potatoes: fertilizer use depends upon cultivar and harvest date; the later a seed crop is
harvested, the less N is applied.

Ware potatos:
N fertilizer requirement is calculated from the formula:
N requirement = 285 - (1.1 mineral N J/F*) (kg/ha)
* J/F - January/February

Mineral N is assessed in soil during January/February of the harvest year (= Mineral N J/F)
and generally amounts to approximately 40 kg/ha N.

P and K requirements are calculated from soil status for these nutrients; whilst new soils high
in Ca are given extra P.
Extra K is occasionally given to control bruising, presumably by its effect on dry matter.

Netherlands - Recommended nutrient rates

Crop use kg/ha
N P2O5 K2O
Seed potatoes 90-130 120-180 ca. 200
Potatoes for human ca. 240 120-180 250-400
consumption
Industrial potatoes ca. 240 120-180 100-200

France

France - Recommended nutrient rates

Maturity group kg/ha
N P2O5 K2O
Early varieties 100-120 60-100 100-220
Second early varieties 80-100 60-100 100-200
Maincrop varieties 60- 80 60-100 100-200
New potatoes 120-150 100-150 200-250
Storage potatoes 150-200 80-110 300-400
Industrial potatoes 150-200 80-120 250-300

Boron is used in deficient soils at no more than 15-20 kg/ha because of its potential toxicity.

Germany: Former GDR

Nutrient supply to potatoes in organic manures and mineral fertilizers should match the crop
requirement, which for P2O5 and K2O, is calculated from potential yield and soil nutrient
status. A 30 t/ha crop would require 25 kg/ha P2O5 and 200 kg/ha K2O.

The N fertilizer recommendations which are set out below are for supplies from both mineral
and organic sources for potatoes after a cereal crop (without overhead irrigation).

Germany (former GDR) - Recommended nitrogen rates

Intended use Soil type
Sand Loamy Sandy Loam/Clay
kg/ha N
Ware potatoes for human 130-170 130-170 130-170 120-160
consumption
Seed potatoes 80-120 80-120 80-120 70-100
Industrial potatoes for 120-140 130-150 140-160 110-140
starch production

Where potatoes are intended for stock feed, an extra 20 kg/ha N is recommended. Where
irrigation is used, a further 20 kg/ha N is advised.

N fertilizer dressings are sometimes split, especially on light sandy soils

Germany: Original FRG

 Germany (original FRG) - Recommended nutrient rates*
Type of Expected kg/ha
potatoes yield(t/ha) N P2O5 K2O MgO
Early potatoes 15-20 100-140 70- 80 180-240 50-60
20-30 140-200 80-100 240-330 50-60
Maincrop potatoes 25-30 100-120 70- 80 250-275 50-60
30-40 120-160 80-100 275-330 50-60
* For sites with good nutrient supply (Class C)

Italy

Italy - Recommended nutrient rates

Type of potatoes kg/ha
N P2O5 K2O
Early harvested potatoes 150-200 100-150 150-200
Human consumption 150-180 150-180 150-200
potatoes
Industrial potatoes 120-150 150-180 100-150
Seed potatoes 100-120 120-160 100-150
Where FYM is used rates of mineral fertilizers are reduced
proportionally.

UK: England & Wales

Recommendations are given according to maturity on harvest date, soil nutrient status index
for each nutrient, and soil type. N rates relate to previous cropping (index 0 is normal after
cereals) and use of organic manures, whilst P2O5, K2O and Mg rates are based on soil
analysis.
 England & Wales - Recommended nutrient rates
Variety Soil index kg/ha
N P2O5 K2O MgO
Early and 0 180a 350b 180 170
canning potatoes 1 130 300b 150 80
2 80 250b 120 -
3 - 250b 60 -
over 3 - 250b 60 -
Seed potatoes 0 180 350 350 170
(grown specifically 1 130 300 300 80
for seed and burnt 2 80 250 250 -
off early) 3 - 150 150 -
over 3 - 100 100 -
Second earlies 0 220 350 350 170
and maincrop: 1 160 300 300 80
Mineral soils 2 100 250 250 -
3 - 200 150 -
over 3 - 100 100 -
Second earlies 0 130 350 350 170
and maincrop: 1 90 300 300 80
Peaty soils 2 50 250 250 -
(except moss 3 - 200 150 -
soils) over 3 - 200 100 -
Second earlies 0 180 350 350 170
and maincrop: 1 130 300 300 80
Organic, moss 2 80 250 250 -
and warp soils 3 - 200 150 -
over 3 - 200 100 -
a For every early lifts, 150 kg/ha N is adequate
b Early potatoes have shown much larger response on slightly acid soils in Dyfed and Cornwall than
on calcareous soils in S.E. England. The latter have shown little response to P at soil P Index 4, and
125 kg/ha P2O5 is sufficient.

Potatoes for processing: crops grown for 'French fry' production should receive the same
fertilizer treatment as if grown for the ware market.
The variety Record grown for crisping should not receive more N than is recommended for
ware.

Choice of source and rate of K will depend on whether higher dry matter or reduced internal
bruising is the priority. High rates of animal manure can result in excessive nutrient
application and reduced crisp quality.

UK: Scotland

Similar recommendations as for England & Wales, except as below:

Scotland - Recommended nutrient rates for specialist seed potato crops

kg/ha
N P2O5 K2O
Soil N Status Soil P2O5 status Soil K2O status
Low Moderate High Low* Moderate High Low* Moderate High
100 70 40 250 200 150 160 110 60
* Soils of very low P or K status require additional 40 kg/ha P2O5 or K2O
 Adjustments for N
kg/ha
soil N status
Low Moderate High
Average annual rainfall: > 850 mm -25 -25 -25
Average annual rainfall: < 700 mm +25 +25 +25
Sandy soils +35 +35 +35
Very low organic matter (all arable) +25 - -

Sweden

Sweden - Recommended nutrient rates

Use Region Variety kg/ha
N P2O5 K2O
Human South Bintje 100-140 40-80 120-180
consumption King Edward 100-140 40-80 120-180
Magnum Bonum 80-110 40-80 120-180
Central Bintje 100-120 40-80 120-160
King Edward 80-100 40-80 120-160
Magnum Bonum 60- 80 40-80 120-160
North Bintje 80-100 60-80 80-120
King Edward 70- 90 60-80 80-120
Magnum Bonum 50- 70 60-80 80-120
Starch/Alcoh South Dianella etc. 120-150 40-80 120-180
ol
Chips South Bintje 100-120 60-80 120-200
(Pommes West Saturna
frites)
Seed The whole of Most 80-100 60-100 120-180
Sweden
The recommended rates of P have generally a residual effect enough for a cereal crop.

Finland

N requirements are taken from basic standards. Basic requirements for P2O5, K2O and Mg
are calculated from soil analysis.

For all nutrients corrections are made for:

effect of preceding crop
organic manures
irrigation/moisture stress
method of fertilizer distribution, e.g. placement or broadcast

Computer programs are used to produce final individual recommendations.

USA: New York State

 New York State - Recommended N rates
Soil type Varieties kg/ha N
Mineral Hudson, Kennebec 135-170
Belrus, Monona, Norchip, Rosa, Superior, 170-200
Wauseon*
Muck Hudson, Rosa 85- 90
Atlantic, Chieftain, Katahdin 110
Belrus, Monono**, Norland**, Superior, 170
Wauseon**
* Apply only 135-170 kg/ha N for early yields
** Apply only 110 kg/ha N for early yields

New York State - Recommended P2O5 rates

Soil type Soil test P kg/ha P2O5 Soil iron + aluminium kg/ha P2O5 pH
<100 100-200 >200 5.2 5.2-5.6 >5.6
Mineral:
- Upstate <20 270-335 270-335 270-335 270-335 270-335 270-335
>20 135-170 170-270 270-335 270-335 170-270 135-170
- Long Island <60 270-335 270-335 270-335 270-335 270-335 270-335
>60 135-170 170-270 270-335 270-335 170-270 135-170
Muck <100 - 110 - - - -
>100 - 55 - - - -

New York State - Recommended K2O rates

Soil type Soil Test K kg/ha K2O
Mineral <175 270-335
175-275 170-270
275-375 85-170
>375 55
Muck <400 110
>400 55

New York State - Recommended MgO rates

Soil type Soil test Mg kg/ha MgO
Mineral <100 or pH <5.0 55
>100 none
Muck <100 55
>100 none

For Long Island Mineral Soil apply Mg and at least 90 kg/ha each of N and P2O5 and all or
part of K2O in bands at planting. If need is indicated by soil test, supplemental P2O5 and
K2O can be applied between planting and emergence. The remainder of the N should be
applied as a sidedressing when plants are 10-15 cm high.

For Upstate Mineral Soil, the entire application can be banded at planting, or at least 90
kg/ha N and all P2O5 and K2O can be applied at planting, with the remaining N applied as a
sidedressing when the plants are 10-15 cm high.

In both locations, supplemental N applications may be needed if heavy rains occur early in
the season, but they should not be made after plants are 20-25 cm high.

For Shallow Mucks, band all N at planting unless foliar applications of manganese sulphate
are to be made; P2O5 and K2O can be broadcast or banded with N. For Deep Mucks, band
or broadcast the required amount of fertilizer.

USA: Idaho
N recommendations vary from 22 to 337 kg/ha N based on the calculation:

Crop need - (mineralized N + soil test N)

Requirement = --------------------------------------------------------
0.65 (% recovery fertilizer N)

Idaho - P2O5 recommendations

Soil test P 0 - 30 cm ppm kg/ha P2O5
< 5 % free lime >15 % free lime
5 180 450
10 90 360
20 0 180
30 0 0

Idaho - K2O recommendations

Soil test K 0-30 cm ppm kg/ha K2O
0 270
55 180
100 90
>158 0

Some N is applied in irrigation water. P2O5 and K2O can be applied in the autumn before
planting of the spring potato crop.

Recommendations are not specifically given for sulphur but, where the level of S04-S in the
0-30 cm soil depth is less than 8 ppm, then treatment is advised in the form of water-soluble
sulphate.

Canada

General recommendations for the Atlantic regions are:

kg/ha
N P2O5 K2O
110-150 120-180 120-180

Mg fertilization is rarely required.

India
 Fertilizer recommendations based on data from the Departments of Horticulture
of the various states
State N P2O5 K2O farmyard
manure t/ha
kg/ha
Andhra Pradesh 100* 50 100 25-30
Assam
- Irrigated 60 100 100 10
- Rainfed 60 50 50 10
Bihar 120* 80 60 20-30
Haryana 125-150* 50 100 50
Karnataka
- Irrigated 125* 100 125 25
- Rainfed 75* 100 125 25
Madhya Pradesh 150* 100 100 25
Maharashtra 100 70 50 40-50
Punjab 125* 62 125 100
Orissa 100 62 100 -
Tamil Nadu 100 125 50 15
Uttar Pradesh 120* 80 100 20-30
West Bengal 150-200* 100-150 100-150 15
* Split application of N recommended
Source : Tandaon, 1987

South Africa

N recommendations
Predicted yield kg/ha N
t/ha Dryland Irrigation
15 70 100
30 130 150
45 170 200
52 200 230

P2O5 recommendations
Yield potential t/ha P2O5 status in soil kg/ha P2O5
10 a 30-100
20 b 40-115
30 c 50-130
40 d 60-145
50 e 70-160
a = ambic 0-4; Bray 1 0-5; Olsen 0-3 ppm P2O5
e = ambic 20+; Bray 1 25+; Olsen 15 ppm P2O5

Required K is calculated from cation exchange capacity and soil analysis. Mg and Ca are
applied as dolomitic or calcitic limestone.

Other countries
Country kg/ha
N P2O5 K2O
Europe
Austria 120 60 100
Hungary 138 125 236
Ireland 88 181 233
Poland 95 70 140
Asia
Japan 120 152 136
South Korea 87 53 54
Sri Lanka 125 160 125
America
Colombia 85 175 40
Dominican Republic 95 95 95
Venezuela 120-150 150-300 150-225
Africa
Mauritius 78 78 120
Zimbabwe 0-160 0-310 0-130
Abstracted from International Potash Bureau Bulletin 8, 1983

Further reading

ANON: Fertiliser Recommendations (5th edition). Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,
Reference Book 209; HMSO, London, UK (1988)

ARCHER, J.: Crop Nutrition & Fertiliser Use. Farming Press Ltd, Ipswich, UK (1988)

BURTON, W.G.: The Potato (3rd edition). Longman Scientific & Technical, Harlow, UK (1989)

HARRIS, P.M. (ed.): The Potato Crop (A Scientific Basis for Improvement). Chapman and Hall,
London, UK (1978)

Author: M.F. Askew, MAFF, Agricultural Development and Advisory Service, Wolverhampton, UK