Spraying seed potatoes before planting with phosphate improves early growth of the potato crop. So it appears from preliminary field trials conducted on Dutch soils low in phosphorus. The experimental phosphate formulation is atomized at a dose of approximately 1 kg phosphate (P2O5) per hectare. With this treatment, potato growers can save around 10 kg phosphate per hectare. Results of the preliminary trials confirm the well-known advantage of seed tubers rich in phosphorus. This year the experiments will be continued on a larger scale.
Soaking
Earlier Indian potato experts have found that soaking physiologically active seed tubers in a monoammonium phosphate (MAP) solution leads to a substantial increase in phosphorus concentration in the tubers. Seed tuber soaking in diammonium phosphate (DAP) or superphosphate also increases the phosphorus content of the tubers. According to the researchers, a small increase in phosphorus concentration of the seed tubers results in better root development, which in turn enhances the use of soil and fertiliser phosphorus and improves the yield of the potato crop. So, soaking acts as a starter dose. A disadvantage of the soaking method is the increased risk of disease spread, especially of bacterial pathogens.
Desk study
The Dutch trials and the Indian experiments are part of a detailed desk study, which will be published shortly in the Plant nutrition courier, a newsletter on plant nutrition research. With the publication of this desk study Plant nutrition courier starts a series of articles about innovative methods for potato fertilisation. Earlier this digital newsletter published about silicon and selenium nutrition of potatoes.
Source: Plant nutrition courier