Nutrients for potatoes

A potato crop yielding 30 tonnes of potatoes may take up from the soil during growth:

150 kg of N 90 kg of CaO
60 kg of P2O5 or 26.4 kg P 30 kg of MgO
350 kg of K2O or 291.6 kg K


Mineral fertilizers and Farmyard manure
Potatoes respond well to the application of farmyard manure and mineral fertilizers.

The crop benefits from farmyard manure through: MINERAL FERTILIZERS===== ORGANIC MANURES

The availability of nutrients is influenced by soil pH.
Availability of nutrients and pH

Nitrogen
The nitrogen given to the crop is around 150-200 kg per hectare. 50% is given at planting and 50% after emergence of the crop and before ridging.
NITROGEN

Phosphorus
Phosphorus is not transported easily into the soil by water to reach the roots. Only a small proportion of the phosphorus in the soil can be taken up by the plant. The total amount of phosphorus of 100 kg per hectare is applied before or during planting.
PHOSPHORUS

Potassium
The potato crop is a big user of potash. On soils relatively rich in potassium and without fixation, fertilization with potassium is not common.
POTASSIUM

Calcium and magnesium fertilizers
Calcium is a nutrient and corrects soil pH. Magnesium deficiency is quite common especially with high K-fertilization.
CALCIUM - MAGNESIUM

Micro-elements
In this group: Manganese, Boron, Zinc, Sulfur, Iron.
MICRO - ELEMENTS