According to Rosstat, the average Russian consumes from 43,8 to 64,4 kg of potatoes per year, in addition, potatoes are an important fodder and industrial crop. In the Russian Federation, it is grown on an area of 1188 thousand hectares, more than 50% of which are concentrated in the Central and Volga Federal Districts. Thanks to the development of technologies, the efficiency of crop cultivation is growing every year. One of the components of success, ensuring high productivity and quality of potatoes, is a well-developed system of mineral nutrition.
To obtain a potato yield of 50 t / ha, it is necessary to add at least 175 kg of nitrogen, 70 kg of phosphorus and 300 kg of potassium, 100 kg of calcium, 45 kg of magnesium and 15 kg of sulfur, as well as a number of trace elements. Many farms are now targeting 60-70 t / ha, therefore, the compensating dose of mineral fertilizers should be higher.
Potatoes are potato-loving, chlorophobic crops that prefer acidic sandy loam soils. Nitrogen is responsible for the growth of strong and healthy foliage, which feeds the tubers, and is consumed by potatoes throughout the growing season. Phosphorus is necessary for the early development of roots and shoots, it ensures the formation of the maximum number of tubers, and affects their size. Potassium at the final stage of the growing season promotes the outflow of nutrients from the tops to the tubers, determining the nutritional value and taste of potatoes.
During the growing season, potatoes absorb nutrients unevenly. The most intense period occurs at the time of initiation of tubers and lasts until they are fully ripe. At this time, plants are most sensitive to the imbalance of nutrients and respond most fully to additional foliar feeding.
Potato brand Avrora™ 14-14-23
There are several products in the EuroChem portfolio, the use of which on potatoes shows maximum efficiency. First of all, this is Avrora nitroammophoska brand 14-14-23.
Avrora ™ 14-14-23 contains 50/50 nitrate and ammonium nitrogen, phosphorus in an easily available water-soluble form, no sodium. In addition, due to the natural composition of the raw material, the fertilizer contains such important elements as sulfur (1,7%), calcium (0,2-0,5%) and magnesium (0,9%). As part of Avrora ™ 14-14-23 the minimum amount of chlorine, due to this fertilizer can be applied in the spring before planting or when planting potatoes (as opposed to potassium chloride). It is recommended to apply it only in autumn, so that by the time of planting, chlorine ions have time to wash out of the soil, since they retard the development and maturation of tubers.
The recommended application rate of 14-14-23 is 400-1000 kg / ha (if KCl has not been applied since autumn), which can be divided into two dressings: pre-sowing and pre-sowing in a ratio of 3: 1. If KCl was applied for tillage, then the dosage will be 200-300 kg / ha.
Calcium nitrate instead of ammonium nitrate
Despite the fact that potatoes are crops that tolerate moderate soil acidity, they consume a lot of calcium. In addition, the optimal response of the soil environment (pHwaters 6,2-7,0) is a guarantee of the availability of nutrients for plants, and, therefore, obtaining high yields.
Since the main potato growing regions themselves have acidic soils, the systematic use of ammonium nitrate will further lower the pH, ultimately causing soil degradation and loss of fertility. An alternative is the physiologically neutral nitrogen-limestone fertilizer (NLF) from EuroChem. UAI does not acidify the soil, improves its physical properties, provides plants with the necessary nitrogen and additionally supplies calcium and magnesium.
This fertilizer, among other things, has a prolonged nitrogen release effect due to the absorbing component - dolomite. It is applied superficially, without embedding at a dose of 300-350 kg / ha, which is recommended to be divided into 2 dressings - the first after the formation of the third leaf, the second after 15-20 days.
Sheet work
Leaf feeding is an integral part of the potato growing process. With its help, it is possible to stimulate the culture at certain stages of development, promptly correct the deficiency of any element, and increase the resistance of plants to unfavorable environmental factors. Complex water-soluble fertilizers of the Aqualis line serve as a tool for this.© from EuroChem. Due to 100% solubility and bioavailability, the absence of sodium, chlorine and ballast substances in the composition, these products are perfect for foliar feeding. Aqualis line© - these are 7 brands with different ratios of NPK, S and Mg, additionally enriched with microelements in a chelated form: Fe, B, Zn, Cu, Mn, Mo. There are starting, equilibrium and final marks, for any stage of development - its own unique formula. Efficiency of the complete Aqualis feeding scheme© has been proven many times in field trials on different varieties of potatoes.
Checking in the field
In the Oryol region, on strongly acidic soils, the replacement of 10-26-26 (400 kg / ha) and ammonium nitrate (300 kg / ha) with the grade 14-14-23 Avrora™ (500 kg / ha) and AIM (370 kg / ha) brought an additional 11,4 t / ha to the yield. At the same time, the degree of damage to plants by Alternaria decreased by 2,9%, by late blight - by 10,1%, the content of nitrates in tubers decreased from 120 to 91 mg / kg. A separate effect from the introduction of a physiologically neutral UAI is estimated at 8,1 t / ha of an increase relative to ammonium nitrate in the same dosage for a.i. (see Chart 1).
AO Severka, Moscow Region, also tested the replacement of grade 10-26-26 (600 kg / ha) with Avrora™ 14-14-23 (650 kg / ha) and ammonium nitrate (300 kg / ha) at AIM (370 kg / ha). The scheme was supplemented with Aqualis foliar dressing©: 18-18-18 (3 kg / ha) for shoots 5-15 cm, 18-18-18 (3 kg / ha) for tops 15-30 cm, 13-40-13 (3 kg / ha) in phase budding, 6-14-35 (4 kg / ha) 3-4 weeks before harvest.
The result is an increase in yield by 9,8 t / ha and more than 91 thousand rubles / ha of additional profit (see Diagram 2).
In LLC SK im. Kalinin "of the Krasnodar Territory tested a similar scheme of foliar fertilizing Aqualis©: 18-18-18 on tops 10-15 cm, 13-40-13 in the budding phase, 3-11-38 3 weeks before harvesting. Fertilizers were applied at a dose of 3 kg / ha together with plant protection products. On the farm, only soil fertilizers were used. The resulting increase in yield from the EuroChem scheme amounted to 3,3 t / ha, conditionally net profit - 61 thousand rubles / ha. (see Chart 3).
Still have questions? EuroChem specialists will be happy to help you understand the nuances of the mineral nutrition of potatoes, select fertilizers and schemes for their use that meet the conditions of your particular farm.
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