Potato nutrient requirements

Potato nutrient requirements vary depending on the crop growth stage. Find out which nutrients are most important at different growth stages.

Planting

Nitrogen and Potassium - early growth and dry matter
Phosphate - more tubers, growth and dry matter
Magnesium - for plant development
Zinc and Manganese - Powdery and Common Scab control
Sulphur - Common and Powdery Scab and tuber numbers

Before tuber initiation (Hook stage)

Phosphate - more tubers, stronger growth

Tuber initiation

Phosphate and Magnesium - bigger tubers
Zinc and Manganese – skin finish
Calcium (+/- Boron) – good skin quality, internal rust spot reduction, stress tolerance – drought/heat

Flowering and bulking

Nitrogen, Phosphate and Magnesium - maintain tuber growth
Calcium – improves skin finish and reduces disease impact

Recommended Yara fertilisers for potatoes

YaraMila ACTYVA S
15.6-14.6-14.6+ 6.5 SO3 - Granular fertiliser often used for grassland, winter cereals and oilseed rape to supply phosphate and potash together with nitrogen and sulphur.
YaraLiva TROPICOTE
15.5% N + 26.3% CaO - Granular calcium nitrate fertiliser for field application to a wide range of crops.
YaraMila MAINCROP
14-13.6-20.6 - Compound granular fertiliser ideal for potato crops where sulphur is not required.
YaraMila COMPLEX
12-11-18 + 20% SO3 - Prilled NPK fertiliser which also contains magnesium and sulphur as well as micronutrients ideal for use on a wide range of arable and horticultural crops.
YaraVita MANTRAC PRO
A flowable liquid micronutrient fertiliser containing 500 g/l of manganese for application as a foliar spray or seed treatment to a wide range of crops.
YaraVita MAGPHOS K
A liquid fertiliser containing a high concentration of phosphate together with potash and magnesium for foliar application to potatoes and other crops.
YaraVita MAGFLO 300
A flowable liquid fertiliser containing 300 g/l magnesium for foliar application to cereals and potatoes or treat magnesium deficiency in a wide range of crops.
YaraVita CROPLIFT PRO
A foliar fertiliser containing multiple nutrients and micronutrients for foliar application to a wide range of crops during times of stress or periods of rapid growth.
See all fertiliser choices

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Potato agronomy advice

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Establishing potatoes successfully
As with any other crop, good nutrition is key to securing a healthy potato crop, one that will return good yield and high quality and ultimately achieve a better profit margin for you.
Agronomy Advice - Is your potato quality being let down by a lack of calcium?
Is your potato quality being let down by a lack of calcium?
Calcium is a vital nutrient for potatoes and most aspects of tuber quality can be improved by having a sufficient supply of calcium during growth.
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Increase potato yields with better phosphate management
Ensuring sufficient phosphate is available for early development is critical in potatoes so perhaps it is time for a re-think about phosphate management.
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How to make better informed nutrient decisions

Our collection of tools help you to make better nutrient decisions in making the right fertiliser choice and applying the right amount of nutrients at the right time and in the right place so that the crop yield and quality can be maximised whilst still keeping costs in check, avoiding over-fertilisation and protecting the environment.

CheckIT - to identify nutrient deficiencies

CheckIT - to identify nutrient deficiencies
Analysis - recommended analysis suites for potatoes

Analysis - recommended analysis suites for potatoes
See all the farmer's toolbox