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Crop Guide: Potato Fertilizer Recommendations

The recommendations appearing in this document should be regarded as a general guide only. The exact fertilization program should be determined according to the specific crop needs, soil and water conditions, and the grower’s experience. For detailed recommendations, consult a local Haifa representative.

Disclaimer: Any use of the information given here is made at the reader’s sole risk. Haifa Chemicals Ltd. provides no warranty whatsoever for "Error Free" data, nor does it warrants the results that may be obtained from use of the provided data, or as to the accuracy, reliability or content of any information provided here.

In no event will Haifa Chemicals Ltd. or its employees be liable for any damage or punitive damages arising out of the use of or inability to use the data included.

 

 

Index:

  1. General recommendations
  2. Side dressing with Multi-K™
  3. Poly-Feed™ water soluble NPK fertilizers
  4. Multicote™ Agri controlled release fertilizer
  5. Haifa water soluble fertilizers for foliar application
  6. Examples of potato fertilization with Multi-K™ in various countries

 

3.1 General recommendations

3.1.1 Haifa Nutrinet web software for Nutigation™ programs

Use the NutriNet™ web software, accessible through our website or directly at www.haifa-nutrinet.com to assist you inworking out the recommended fertilizer rates at different growth stages according to the expected yield under your growing conditions.

 
The following is an example of recommendations, found on the NutriNet™, in accordance with the above-mentioned guideline to split the scheduled fertilization into:
a) Base-dressing (pre-plant) fertilizers, followed by:
b) Nutrigation™ (fertigation) at different growth stages, on sandy-loam soil, when the expected yield is 80 ton/ha:
 

a) Base dressing

 

 

b) Nutrigation™

Total amount of fertilizers applied by Nutrigation™

 

 

 

Table 10: The total contribution of plant nutrients from each fertilizer as calculated by NutriNet™:

 

kg

N

P2O5

K2O

CaO

MgO

Ammonium nitrate (34%)

351

116

 

 

 

 

Haifa MAP™ (12-61-0)

144

17

88

 

 

 

Multi-K™ (13-0-46)

859

112

 

395

 

 

Haifa Cal™ (26% CaO)

27

4

 

 

7

 

Magnesium sulphate (16% MgO)

58

 

 

 

 

9

Total

1437

255

88

395

7

9

 

 

Table 11: Recommended nutrient rates per ha per day and per growth stage as calculated by NutriNet™ :

 

Phase

Days fromsowing / planting

kg/ha/day

kg/ha/phase

N

P2O5

K2O

CaO

MgO

N

P2O5

K2O

CaO

MgO

Planting

1

1

0

1

0

0

1

0

1

0

0

Vegetative growth

2-40

1.56

0.54

2.44

0.05

0.05

61

21

95

2

2

Tuber initiation & bulking

41-80

3.15

1.08

4.85

0.08

0.1

126

43

194

3

4

Maturation

81-130

2.36

0.82

3.64

0.06

0.08

118

41

182

3

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

306

105

472

8

10

 

 

Table 12: Recommended fertilizers rates per growth stage

Phase

Days from sowing

/ planting

kg/ha/phase

Ammonium

nitrate

34-0-0

Haifa MAP*

12-61-0

Multi-K® *

13-0-46

Haifa Cal*

(26% CaO)

Magnesium

sulfate

(16% MgO)

Planting

1

2

0

2

0

0

Vegetative growth

2-40

172

34

207

8

13

Tuber initiation & bulking

41-80

150

70

422

12

25

Maturation

81-130

72

67

396

12

25

Total

396

144

859

27

56

*

Multi-K™  = Potassium nitrate

Haifa MAP™ = Mono-ammonium phosphate

Haifa Cal™ = Calcium nitrate

 

3.1.2 Side dressing with Multi-K™

It is recommended to apply Multi-K™ by side dressing in prilled form. It can be done by any surface fertilizer applicator. However, when the soil is too wet, especially in early spring, aerial application is recommended.

 

 

Table 12: Soil applied fertilization

Type of potatoes

When to apply

Rate kg/ha

Ware potatoes

5 - 8 weeks after planting

250 - 300 kg Multi-K™ /ha

Early potatoes

After removing plastic cover

200 - 250 kg Multi-K™ /ha

Comments

Split into 2 - 4 applications.

First application 20-30 days after emergence

Fewer applications in heavier soils, more in light texture soils.

15 - 20 days interval.

 

 

3.1.3 Poly-Feed™ water-soluble NPK fertilizers

Table 13: fertilization recommendations for potatoes. Expected yield: 60 ton/ha

Growth stage

Days

Poly-Feed™ formula

kg/ha/day

Total kg/ha

Planting & Establishment

30

20-20-20

6

180

Tuber initiation

25

14-7-21+2MgO

18

450

Tuber growth

55

14-7-21+2MgO

18

990

 

 

3.1.4 Multicote™ Agri controlled release fertilizer

An N:P2O:K2O ratio of 2:1:3* is recommended, as pre-plant application. This application will take care of the nutritional requirement of the plot for the entire growth season.

 

Multicote™ Agri granules should be incorporated into the soil, 10cm deep and 10cm away from the planting row.

Consult a local Haifa representative for detailed explanations and instructions.

 

 

 

Table 14: Multicote™ Agri application recommendations for potatoes*

 

Application rate

% of local practice*

% coated nutrients

N

P2O5

K2O

N

P2O5

K2O

Light soil

60-70

100

70

70

-

Up to 50

Heavy soil

70-90

100

80

50-60

-

Up to 50

* These recommendations refer to areas where nitrogen application rates are not restricted by regulations. If nitrogen application is restricted, calculation of Multicote™ Agri application rates should be based on the full optimum rates that would have been given with no restrictions.

 

 

Table 15: Haifa water-soluble fertilizers for foliar application

Fertilizer

Curing Treatment

Recommended concentration

Haifa Bonus™

Potassium deficiency

1%  -  3%

Haifa MAP™

Phosphorus deficiency

1%  -  3%

Haifa MKP™

Phosphorus and potassium deficiency

1%  -  3%

Magnisal™

Magnesium deficiency

1%  -  2%

Poly-Feed™

N-P-K and micronutrients deficiency

See table below

Haifa Micro™

Micronutrients deficiencies

Consult Haifa agronomist

 

Table 16: Recommended foliar feeding with Poly-Feed™ products for boosting crop performances

 

Stage

Poly-Feed®Foliar analysis

Concentration

Spray volume

Vegetative growth

“Vegetative Booster” 21-21-21

2% - 5%

50 – 80 L/ha

Tuber growth

“Poly-Potato” 12-5-40

Two applications at 2% - 4%

50 – 80 L/ha

 

3.2 Examples of potato fertilization with Multi-K™ in various countries

 

3.2.1 South Africa 

A. Cape region

Application Schedule

Product           (N- P2O5-K2O)

 

kg/ha

N

P

P2O5

K

K2O

Before plant

Gypsum

 

2000

 

 

 

 

 

Bended at planting

Granular 8-29-20

 

1130

55

110

252

95

114

Fertigation (Via Central Pivot)

Weeks

 

Applications per week

Rate per application

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 to 4

13-10-27*

2

75 kg/ha

80

27

61

133

160

Calcium Nitrate

1

50 kg/ha

28

0

0

0

0

5 to 7

Multi-K™

2

60 kg/ha

55.2

0

0

110

132

Calcium Nitrate

1

50 kg/ha

21

0

0

0

0

8 to 10

Multi-K™

3

60 kg/ha

54

0

0

158

189

Sub-total Nutrigation™

238

27

61

401

482

Total

293

137

313

496

596

* Water-soluble fertilizer made of Multi-K™ MKP and AS

 

 

B. Free state

Fertilizers

Magnisal™

Haifa Cal™

UAN

4-3-4 (18)

Multi-K™

KCl

S. G.

1.3

1.48

1.3

1.3

0.2

0.2

Week

kg/ha

0  (Jan-10)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 - 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

100

100

150

100

 

 

7

100

100

150

100

 

 

8

100

100

100

100

 

 

9

7

 

90

100

 

 

10

 

 

 

95

50

 

11

 

 

 

 

50

 

12

 

 

 

 

50

25

13

 

 

 

 

10

25

14

 

 

 

 

 

25

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

307

300

490

495

160

75

 

 

3.2.2. Australia

Soil type: Light (with low phosphorus and potassium)

Note: Nutrients supplied by a base dressing with strategic applications through the center pivot irrigators.

 

 

Recommended rates of nutrients

N

P

P2O5

K

K2O

150-250 kg/ha

60-110 kg/ha

135-250 kg/ha

150-200 kg/ha

180-240 kg/ha

 

 

a) Base-dressing

On silt soils (medium soils) up to 50% of the N and K should be applied as pre-plant and up to 100 % of P applied as pre-plant dry fertilizer *.

N

P

P2O5

K

K2O

50-80 kg/ha

60-110 kg/ha

135-250 kg/ha

50-60 kg/ha

60-70kg/ha

* On light (sandy) soils, up to 30% of the N and K should be applied as pre-plant and up to 100 % of the P applied as pre-plant dry fertilizer.

 

 

b) Nutrigation™

50%** of N and K are applied through the irrigation system (center pivot)

Time of application

(weeks after emergence)

kg/ha/application

N

P

K

K2O

Multi-K™

Ammonium Nitrate

1-5

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

23

52

19

23

50

50

8

23

52

19

23

50

50

10

23

52

19

23

50

50

12

23

52

19

23

50

50

14

23

52

19

23

50

50

** When 70% of N and K are applied, increase Multi-K™ rate to 55 - 60 kg/application an ammonium nitrate to 90 kg/application.

 

 

Nutrient applied kg/ha

N

P

P2O5

K

K2O

(Approx)

195

70

160

185

225

Note: Nutrigation™ begins 6 weeks after emergence. If practical, applications can be split and applied on a weekly basis.

 

 

3.2.3. Poland

Soil type: Light /sandy

Plant density: 40,000-75,000 / ha

Expected yield: 35-45 T/ha, depending on variety

 

Average recommended rates of nutrients (kg/ha):

N

P2O5

K2O

CaO

MgO

200-250

150

350-450

60-80

60-80

 

 

a) Base-dressing

 

Nutrient Requirements

Recommended Fertilizers

N

P2O5

K2O

MgO

AN

TSP

Haifa SOP

MgSO4

30

100

130

53

90

220

260

160

AN - Ammonium nitrate (34%)

TSP - Triple Super phosphate (46%P2O5)

Haifa SOP - Potassium sulfate (50% K2O)

 

 

b) Nutrigation™

Based on a weekly irrigation.

Growth stage

 

Weeks after emergence

Nutrition requirement (kg/ha/week)

Recommended fertilizer (kg/ha/week)

N

P2O5

K2O

CaO

MgO

Multi-K™ Mg

Haifa MAP™

AN

CN

Vegetative growth

1-5

6

6

 

 

 

 

10

18

 

Tuber initiation

6-7

5

5

 

 

 

 

8

15

 

Tuber bulking

8-10

28

 

32

60

3.0

78

 

58

230*

Maturation

11-13

15

 

32

 

3.0

78

 

58

 

14-16

 

 

10

 

0.8

22

 

 

 

Total

169

40

222

180

20

480

66

170

230

If fertilizers are applied by side-dressing, the entire weekly rate should be applied at once. Fertilizers should be placed besides the row.

Multi-K™ Mg = Potassium nitrate enriched with magnesium (11-0-40+4MgO)

Haifa MAP™= Mono-Ammonium Phosphate (12-61-0)

AN = Ammonium nitrate

CN = Calcium nitrate

 

 

3.2.4. Israel

Soil application:

Growth stage

N rate

Multi-K*

P2O5 rate

From planting till tuber initiation

70-105 kg/ha

---

According to soil test or 150-200 kg /ha

At tuber initiation

-

300-500 kg/ha

10 - 15 days later 

-

300-500 kg/ha

* Optional Multi-K™ Mg

 

 

Foliar feeding:

Treatment

Fertilizer

Spray timing

Conc.

Spray volume

No. of applications

Improving growth

Poly-Feed™ 20-20-20

One week after emergence

2% - 3%

Full coverage

2 - 3

Correcting K deficiency

Haifa Bonus™

12-2-44

Two weeks after emergence

5% - 8%

Higher yield

Haifa Bonus™ 12-2-44

From full canopy

5% - 8%

 

 

Aerial application:

When there is a need for top-dressing and the soil is either too wet or the field is too large for timely ground application, an aerial application of prilled Multi-K™ is a practical solution. This is especially effective when the soil temperature is still cold, (usually in early spring), so a nitrate application will enable the plant to take up nitrogen at this stage for quick response.

 

Need more information about how to grow potato? You can always return to the potato fertilizer & potato crop guide table of contents