The Latest Techniques and Methods for Potato Planting and Fertilization: A Tutorial

Potato fertilization is generally based on the principle of “organic fertilizer as the main input, chemical fertilizer as a supplement, heavy application of base fertilizer, and early application of topdressing”. This is because organic fertilizer contains abundant organic matter, which helps to build up and loosen the soil, improve soil fertility, and is even more beneficial for potato tuber expansion and root growth. During the potato growing period, the stage when it needs the most water and fertilizer is the flowering stage, and this is also the season when temperatures rise and rainfall increases, as well as the stage when organic fertilizer gradually matures and decomposes to release nutrients. At this time, the conversion benefits of the organic and inorganic fertilizers in the base fertilizer continuously expand, meeting the potato's nutrient needs during the growing period and promoting plant growth and development.

Fertilization Rate

Potatoes are grown in both southern and northern regions of China, and soil fertility varies greatly. In the south, soils are mostly deficient in potassium, so potassium fertilizer should be increased; in the north, soils are mostly deficient in phosphorus, so phosphorus fertilizer should be increased, but since potatoes have a high demand for potassium, this should also be given attention. Trials show that throughout the entire growth period of potatoes, the types and amounts of nutrients needed at different growth stages are all different. Nutrient uptake is very low at the seedling stage, rises sharply at the tuber initiation stage, reaches its peak at the early tuber bulking stage, and then drops sharply again. Calculated as the percentage of the three elements nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the total nutrient uptake, from the germination stage to the emergence stage, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium account for 6%, 8%, and 9% respectively; at the tuber initiation stage, 33%, 34%, and 36% respectively; and at the tuber bulking stage, 56%, 58%, and 55% respectively.

Fertilization Methods

The potato is a tuber crop that prefers loose, sandy soil and requires cool temperatures. When fertilizing, a relatively large amount of farmyard manure should be used together with chemical fertilizer as base fertilizer, as this can improve the soil's physical properties and is beneficial for growth and tuber formation.

1. Apply a heavy base fertilizer. The potato is a tuber crop that prefers loose, sandy soil and requires a cool climate. The amount of base fertilizer generally accounts for more than 2/3 of the total fertilization amount. The base fertilizer is mainly fully decomposed farmyard manure, with a certain amount of chemical fertilizer added, especially phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, as base fertilizer, as this can improve the soil's physical properties and is beneficial for growth and tuber formation. The nitrogen fertilizer in the base fertilizer accounts for about 50% of its total amount. The base fertilizer application method is furrow application or hole application before planting, at a depth of about 15 cm. For a specific fertilization amount, for a plot with a yield of about 1500 kg per mu, apply 1500-2500 kg of organic fertilizer per mu, 20 kg of urea, 20-30 kg of ordinary superphosphate, 10-12 kg of potassium fertilizer, or 40-60 kg of a high-nitrogen, high-potassium compound fertilizer; in high-yield areas, the fertilization amount can be appropriately increased. Chemical fertilizer should be applied 2-3 cm away from the seed potatoes to avoid direct contact with the seed potatoes, and soil should be covered after fertilization.

2. Apply topdressing early. Topdressing should be applied reasonably in combination with the potato's growth stages. At the seedling stage, nitrogen fertilizer should be applied as topdressing; together with intertillage and hilling, 5-8 kg of urea per mu can be applied with water, which helps preserve the seedlings. After potatoes flower, root-zone topdressing is generally not carried out, and in particular nitrogen fertilizer must not be applied as topdressing. After potatoes flower, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer are mainly applied as foliar spray, spraying 50 kg of 0.3-0.5% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution per mu on the leaves; if nitrogen is deficient, 100-150 g of urea can be added, spraying once every 10-15 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprays. Potatoes are relatively sensitive to boron and zinc. If the soil is deficient in boron or zinc, 0.1-0.3% borax or zinc sulfate can be applied as a foliar spray, generally once every 7 days, for two consecutive sprays, using 50-70 kg of solution per mu. Farmers should be especially reminded that potatoes are a potassium-loving crop, and in balanced fertilization, special attention must be paid to the application of potassium fertilizer. At the same time, excessive application of chlorine-containing fertilizers such as potassium chloride should be avoided; potassium sulfate should be chosen instead, otherwise it will affect potato quality.