Growing Potato
Crop Nutrition Advice

Everything you need to know about fertilizing potatoes, best practice, suitable products, field trials and more.

Crop nutrition advice for growing potato (Solanum tuberosum)

  • Potatoes perform best in soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.7.

  • Potatoes thrive well and give the best yield in sandy loam to slit loam organically rich and well-drained soil.

  • In soils with a high pH (above 7.5) phosphorus mainly, but also other micronutrients deficiencies may appear.

  • In high pH conditions potatoes are susceptible to scab bacterial infection caused by Streptomyces scabies.

  • The optimum conditions for root development and tuber initiation are well drained, aerated soils, with temperatures between 15 and 20 °C.

  • Shorter days will help tuber initiation whereas longer days will delay it.

Potato plants with healthy leaves
Potatoes harvested in optimum condition

Nutrient requirements

Estimated nutrient uptake (kg/t) by: 

NP2O5K2OMgOSO3CaO
Kg/haKg/haKg/haKg/haKg/haKg/ha
Tubers31.56.50.40.70.5
Above ground biomass1.90.65.30.20.40.25

Source: IPNI

Role of nutrients

Key parameterNP2O5K2OMgOCaOSO3
Yield+++++++/-+/-
Tuber size+++++
Tuber weight +++++
Skin set -++
Bruising and handling-+++++
Tuber color (internal blackening)+/-+
Dry matter content -+/--+/-
Starch content-++/-

+ = improving

– = decreasing

+/- = different results, depending on the rate of nutrient applied 

Source: IPI bulletin – Fertilizing for high yield | POTATO 

Nutrient deficiencies

NutrientDescription
NitrogenLeaves are pale green (general chlorosis) 
Old leaves remain yellow, while younger leaves turn darker 
Plants will produce less stems and tubers 
PhosphorousPlant growth is stunted 
Darker color than normal 
Lower leaf surface gray green 
Leaflets roll upwards if deficiency is severe. 
It occurs on calcareous and heavy soils, where P can be fixed 
PotassiumPotassium deficiency symptoms normally Scorched appearance with black pigmentation and necrotic edges (dead tissues) 
Symptoms appear on the young, full-sized leaves 
Common in light soils due to easier leaching.  
CalciumModerate calcium deficiency may not appear but in severe situations leaf’s margin can be affected 
Brown blotches may appear around the stolon end of the tubers 
Tubers may show severe skin cracking  
Deficiencies are severe in soils with pH below 5 
MagnesiumChlorosis of leaf margins of older leaves. Yellowing Symptoms appear first on the older leaves, due to its mobility 
General chlorosis with veins remaining green  
Scorched appearance caused by interveinal necrosis 
Can occur on sandy soils and when high K level were applied 
SulphurSymptoms are similar to nitrogen deficiency, but Deficiency Symptoms occur first in younger leaves (as yellowing similar N deficiency) 
General chlorosis 
The yellowing is uniform and general 
It may occur on loamy sand soils 

Potato Trials

Potato with Agrocote Max
Precision agriculture trial station Van Den Borne Potatoes, The Netherlands

15

Yield increase
Sustainable Potato Trial
Interra Farm Ittre, Belgium, 2015

26

Yield increase
Potato with H2Flo
Sweden, 2015

7

Yield increase

Q&A

Here are some frequently asked questions we received from farmers regarding growing potatoes.

  • You will need to apply 300 kg/ha of potassium per ha to meet your yield targets.

  • Sulfur is essential for all crops. In potatoes it can reduce storage sugars and help with production issues.

  • Calcium is important in the development of roots and shoots and will also help with reducing storage losses.

  • Yes, improving the health of the soil will improve water management and nutrient availability.

  • When maximum and minimum temperatures are about 30–32°C and 18–20°C respectively.