1. HOME›
  2. Crop Guide›
  3. A complete nutrition and fertilization program for potatoes

A complete nutrition and fertilization program for potatoes

Different methods of fertilization are available, all with our recommended fertilizers

 
Soil type: Light soil.
Plant population: 4,000-5,000 tubers/Ha.
Expected yield: 45-55 T/Ha.
 
The total rate should be split as follows

Nutritional requirements (Kg/Ha)

N

P2O5

K2O

200-300

100-200

300-500
 
 
 

A. Base-Dressing

Requirement nutrients (Kg/Ha)

Recommended fertilizers (Kg/Ha)

N

P2O5

K2O

SOP

SSP

AN

132

200

195

390

1050

390
 
AN = Ammonium Nitrate (34% N).
SSP = Single Super Phosphate (19% P2O5).
SOP = Potassium sulphate - (50% K2O).
 

B. Side-Dressing: alternative I

Days after Emergence

Nutrients (Kg/Ha)

Fertilizers (Kg/Ha)

N

K2O

Multi-K

AN

20

45

70

150

75

40

45

70

150

75

60

45

70

150

75

Total

135

210

450

225
 
 

B. Side-Dressing: alternative II

Stage

Product

Rate (kg/ha)
2-3 weeks after sprouting

Multi-Grant 13-0-26 + 4

250
5-6 weeks after sprouting

Multi-Grant 13-0-26 + 4

250
 

Soil type: sand.
Plant population: 40,000 – 75,000 plants/Ha.
Expected yield: 45-55 T/Ha.

 

Average recommended rates of nutrients (Kg/Ha)

N

P2O5

K2O

200-300

100-200

300-500
 

Base-Dressing (Kg/Ha)

Requirement nutrients (Kg/Ha)

Recommended fertilizers (Kg/Ha)

N

P2O5

K2O

K2SO4

SSP

AN

60

200

150

300

1050

180
 
K2SO4 - Potassium sulphate - (50% K2O).
SSP - Simple Super Phosphate (19% P2O5).
AN - Ammonium nitrate (34% N).
 
 

Fertigation (Kg/Ha)

Application time

Nutrient requirement

Recommended fertilizers
 

N

K2O

Ca

Multi-K

CN
60% emergence

23

-

28.5

  

150
1 week later

20

75

  

160

  
2 weeks later

23

-

28.5

-

150
3 weeks later

20

75

  

160

-
4 weeks later

23

-

28.5

-

150
5 weeks later

20

75

  

160

-
6 weeks later

23

-

28.5

-

150
7 weeks later

20

75

  

160

-
8 weeks later

20

75

  

160

-
9 weeks later

20

75

  

160

-
Total

212

450

114

960

600
 
CN = Calcium nitrate (15.5% N, 19%Ca).
Multi-K = Potassium nitrate (13-0-46).
 
 

Fertigation program

Soil type: Light /sandy soil.
Plant density: 40,000-75,000 / Ha.
Expected yield: 45-65 Ton/Ha, depending on variety.

 

Recommended rates of nutrients (Kg/Ha)

N

P2O5

K2O

CaO

MgO

250

150

450

60-80

60-80
 

Nutrition recommendation

A. Base dressing

Nutrient requirements

Recommended fertilizers

N

P2O5

K2O

MgO

AN

TSP

K2SO4

MgSO4

80

100

230

53

120

220

460

160
 
AN - Ammonium nitrate (34%).
TSP - Triple Super /phosphate (46% P2O5).
K2SO4 - Potassium sulfate (50% K2O).
 
 

B. Fertigation: Based on weekly irrigation.

Growth stage

Weeks after emergence

Nutrition requirement (Kg/Ha/week)

Recommended fertilizer (Kg/Ha/week)

N

P2O5

K2O

CaO

MgO

Multi-K+4MgO

Haifa MAP

AN

CN
Emergence

1-5

6

6

        

10

18

  
Stolonization

6-7

5

5

        

8

15

  
Beginning of tuberzation

8-10

28

  

32

60

1

78

  

58

230*
Tuber filling

11-13

15

  

32

  

1

78

  

58

  

14-16

    

10

  

0.3

22

      
Fert. Total  

169

40

222

  

7

480

66

170

230
* Side-dressing – the entire quantity is applied in one application near the row, it is an optional application.
Multi-K+4Mg = Potassium nitrate (11-0-40-4).
Haifa MAP= Mono-Ammonium Phosphate (12-61-0).
AN = Ammonium nitrate.
CN = Calcium nitrate.
 
 
 

Multi-K for potatoes

In tropical & sub tropical conditions
Suggested by Chatpracha Sonklien , Haifa-Thailand.
 
Plant density: 40,000 – 75,000 plants/Ha.
Type of soil: Light - Medium.
Expected yield: 40 - 50 T / Ha.
 
During “Bulking-up period” every ton of potato tubers removes (Kg./Ha/Day)
 

N

P2O5

K2O

5.0

1.83

8.12
 

Foliar spraying

Time of application

Multi-K rate (%)

No. of sprays / Intervals
7 days after leaf emerged

1-2

2-3 sprays, every 7-10 days
Tuber initiation

2-4

3-4 sprays, every week
Tuber production

3-4

2-3 sprays, every 2 weeks
2-3 weeks before harvesting

1-2

1-2 sprays, every 10 days
 
Multi-K should be combined with pesticide sprays whenever possible.
 
 

Macro elements removed by 1 ton marketable product

N

P

K

Ca

Mg

S

---------------------------------------------------Kg / ton-----------------------------------------

5.0

0.8

7.5

2.0

1.0

0.6
 
Source: Kinoch: VOLHOUBARE LANDBOU, RSA. Processed by Frans Lourens, Haifa, RSA May, 1999.
 

During “Bulking-up period” every ton of potato tubers removes from soil (Kg/Ha/Day)

N

P2O5

K2O

5.0

1.83

8.12
 
 
 
 

Nutrient sufficiency ranges
(source: A & L, Agronomy Handbook, Ankerman & Large Eds.)

 
Potatoes

N

S

P

K

Mg

Ca

Na

B

Zn

Mn

Fe

Cu

Al

------------------------ % -------------------------

 --------------- p.p.m ---------------
From

4.00

0.25

0.30

3.50

0.50

0.70

0.01

25

30

60

100

10

50
To

6.00 

0.50

0.70

6.50

1.10

2.00

0.15

60

70

200

200

25

250
* Plant part to sample: Petiole of 4th leaf from growing tip.
 
 

Plant tissue sampling procedures

Stage of growth

Plant part

Prior to or during early bloom

Third to sixth leaf plus petiole from growing tip
 
 
 
 

Potatoes, Irish – Mineral analysis values

 
 

Leaves and petioles

Nutrient

Average value

Critical level
 

(%)

N

5.80

3.10

S

0.33

0.18

P

0.70

0.36

K

4.50

2.20

Mg

0.48

0.20

Ca

1.50

0.55

Na

0.05

  
 

(ppm)

Fe

200

75

Al

500

  

Mn

120

30

B

35

9

Cu

18

6

Zn

44

20

Mo

5

15
 
 
 
 

Mineral nutrient composition of potato leaves

 

Nutrient

Optimum

P

(mg/g)

2.6-7.5

K

35-50

Ca

6-20

Mg

2.6-12.0

S

2.0-5.0

B

(mg/kg)

5-40

Cu

5-30

Zn

21-70

Mn

21-300

Fe

11-300
 
Source: Walworth, J.L. and J.E. Muniz. 1993. A compendium of tissue nutrient concentrations for field grown potatoes. Amer. Pot. J. 70:579-597.
 
 
 
Variety: desiree.
Soil type: Loamy.
Expected yield: 57 T/Ha.
Growth period (days from seeding/planting to harvest): 132 days.
 
Source: B. Bar-Yosef. Fertilization under drip irrigation.
 

Fertigation

 
Time interval (days after emergence or planting)

Nutrients requirement (Kg/Ha/Day)

N

P2O5

K2O

1-10

0.25

-

-

11-20

0.35

-

-

21-30

0.40

-

-

31-40

2.10

-

-

41-50

2.00

-

-

51-60

2.10

-

-

61-70

2.90

-

-

71-80

2.20

-

-

81-90

1.40

-

-

91-100

1.50

-

-

101-110

0.80

-

-

111-120

1.00

-

-

121-130 

-

-

-

Total (Kg/Ha)

170

 -

-
 
 
 
 

Foliar feeding in potatoes

Recommendations for Dutch potato growers

Maximum concentration: 5-6% solution. Spray every 10-14 days.
Spraying should be done at the end of the day, beginning of the evening.


Recommendations for Multi-K as foliar fertiliser for starch potatoes in North Europe

First applications would be during the tuber initiation and the second application two weeks later (2 x 25 kg/ha) as 4-5% solution. No surfactants / adjuvants are needed.
Crop protection products, which are known to be compatible with Multi-K, are:
Acrobat MZ; Epok 600 EC; Dithane DG; Shirlan (most commonly sprayed 0.4 litres/ha three-four times per season).

Tank mix spraying with common late blight (Phytophthora Infestans) pesticides means no extra costs on the spraying operation.

 

Note:
We noticed last summer, that if sprayed just before rain, spraying will be useless (so we also think that solutions less than 4% are more or less useless).

Related articles:

Potato Fertilizer

How to grow potato

 
 
Fertilization of peach trees: a comprehensive recommendation
Besides recommended fertilizers for meeting the peach trees nutrient requirements, you can find...
What is the best fertilization program for flourishing mint?
Our fertilization recommendation includes all the nutrient requirements the mint – spearmint and
Fertilization of chives: Supplying the optimal fertilizers combination
By means of fertigation, the chives receive all the nutrients needed in order to provide the best