How to reduce potato foliar diseases

Nitrogen applications can have the effect of encouraging foliar diseases, particularly applications later in the season which delay maturity and increase the risk of blight infection.

Nitrogen excess increases the risk of foliar disases

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient to fuel canopy growth, however in temperate climates, an excess supply of nitrogen at later stages of growth will keep the crop growing, delaying maturity place the crop under increased risk of blight.

Nitrogen for is also an important consideration as too much ammonium nitrogen is a disadvantage as it reduces root zone pH and thereby promotes rhizoctonia.

Other crop management practices influencing foliar diseases

Ensuring blight spray programmes are effective
Scheduling irrigation to maximize quality characteristics

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

How to maintain potato health with nutrition

A well balanced crop nutrition programme will ensure that plants are robust and resilient, whilst avoiding excessive nutrient build up that can also be detrimental to plant health

How to reduce the incidence of potato soft rots

Potato soft rots are a range bacterial diseases that rot the tubers in storage. Correct crop nutrition prior to harvest, particularly calcium and boron has a positive effect against soft rots.

See all potato nutrition articles

Potato agronomy advice

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.

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.

Agronomy Advice - Increase potato yield with better phosphate management

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.

See all agronomy advice

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.

Analysis - recommended analysis suites for potatoes

See all the farmer's toolbox