Potatoes
PDFFoliar ferilization in potatoes
Potatoes have a specific demand of micro-nutrients. For optimized yield and quality, a sufficient supply with the different trace elements will be mandatoy.
Leaf analysis over many years are showing an undersupply of micro-nutrients in cropping potatos. These undersupplies can be solved with additional treatments of trace-elements.
Availability of nutrients
Soil analysis will help in a first step to identify the availability and under- or oversupply with macro-and micro-elements in the soil.
But a sufficient supply with nutrients into the soil doesn’t mean a sufficient supply and availability for plants. High pH-values can reduce the availability of micro-elements, low ph-values the macro-elements. Weather and soil conditions for example dry, cold, wet, compressions, can limited the availability of nutrients in the soil. Furthermore, some antagonism (interactions) between the elements can define the availability (potassium is limiting magnesium).
Leaf and leaf stalk analysis are tools to analyse and estimate the current supply and availability of nutrients. According the results a specific and effective application strategy with foliar fertilizers (micro and macro-elements) can be defined.
After the harvest you can cross-check with an analysis of the potatos whether your fertilizer strategy was successful or if some adjustments will be necessary for the next season.
Seed treatment
Herbicide application
Potato plants with a sufficient supply with manganese will be more resistant against diseases like scab.
The seed treatment with 0,5 l/ha Lebosol®-Mangan GOLD SC can reduce scab infestations significantly especially under dry conditions
The efficacy and selectivity of herbicides can be improved by the combination with Herbosol®
To increase the efficacy of herbicides, Herbosol is acting as an adjuvant and will improve the distribution of soil active herbicides on the dam surface. The herbicide will be more stable and reliable without washing out and the shifting of ai’s into the soil.
Aminosol® with 2-3 l/ha will help and improve the crop selectivity in combination with post-emerge herbicide applications.
Phosphorus-deficiency
The early growth states
In the early growth state plants can suffer growth due to undersupply of nutrients. This is caused by the small root system at this growth state. Especially phosphorus, manganese and boron are often not sufficient available for the young plants. More and more visible on the leaves will be the undersupply with phosphorus.
Lebosol®-Magphos with 6.0 l/ha and two applications at intervals of 10-14 days will improve the tuber formation and thickening of stolones.
For a better tuber growth, 6.0 l/ha Lebosol®-Magphos can be applied after reaching 10 mm of tuber diameter.
Trace nutrient care
The influence of trace elements on yield, particularly, on quality, is also discussed more and more in the cultivation of potatoes. The application of trace elements must be given a practical dimension. Who knows or supposes the problems specified in the table should think about the application of trace elements.
Element
Lack symptoms
Appearances of lacks
Bor (B)
hollowness, iron spotting, low starch content, raised sugar content
sandy soils, high nitrogen and calcium content, low soil content, high pH value, dry, cold and wet
Zink (Zn)
less tubers per shrub, lower radiation tolerance, lower starch contents
high pH value, high phosphorus content in soil, cold and wet
Mangan (Mn)
slower youth development, worse nitrogen utilization, raised scab infestation
sandy, loose soils, dry, cold, and wet, high pH value, low soil contents
Kupfer (Cu)
raised disease predisposition, lower frost tolerance, worse skin development
humous, sandy soils, high pH value, dry, cold and wet, low soil contents
Eisen (Fe)
less chlorophyll, low nitrate efficiency, lower herbicide tolerance
temporarly during cool periods, waterlogged soil, locations with high copper contents, locations rich in lime, high pH value
Based upon the results of leaf stalk monitorings of Lebosol® during the last 10 years we recommend to cover the micronutrient need of your potatoes:
At the beginning of meeting across the rows 1 - 2 x 1 l/ha Lebosol®-Mangan GOLD SC + 1 l/ha Lebosol®-AqueBor SC
or 1 - 2 x 1 - 2 l/ha Lebosol®-QuadroS SC + 1 l/ha Lebosol®-AqueBor
Main recommendations
| Aim/Problem | Recommendation | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Reduction in susceptibility to scab | 0,5 l/ha Lebosol®-Mangan GOLD SC | As seed dressing |
| Improvement in effectiveness and tolerability of soil-applied herbicides | 0,2 - 0,6 l/ha Herbosol® (increase to 0.6 l/ha on light soils with a low humus content, reduce to 0.2 l/ha for heavy soils with a high humus content) | With soil-applied herbicides |
| Improvement in effectiveness and tolerability of post-emergence herbicide sprays or generally to boost stress tolerance | 2 - 3 l/ha Aminosol® | With post-emergence herbicides, in extreme weather conditions (cold, wet, dry) |
| Tuber set | 2 times 6 l/ha Lebosol®-Magphos | To thicken the stolons |
| Reduction in susceptibility to blue/black spot bruising, potassium supply | 2 times 6 l/ha Lebosol®-Kalium 450 | At tuber set and after flowering |
| Tuber growth, starch content, yield | 2 mal 6 l/ha Lebosol®-Magphos | From a tuber diameter of 10 mm |
| Boosting of resistance to illness | 4 - 6 l/ha VITALoSol® GOLD SC | From beginning of row closure |
| Yield and vitality, micronutrients |
1 - 2 times 1 l/ha Lebosol®-Mangan GOLD SC + 1 - 2 times 1 l/ha Lebosol®-AqueBor SC |
From beginning of row closure |
| Yield and vitality, macronutrients | 2 - 3 times 2 - 4 l/ha Lebosol®-MagSOFT SC | From beginning of row closure |
| Yield and vitality, macronutrients | 3 - 4 times 4 l/ha Lebosol®-Calcium-Forte SC | From beginning of row closure |