Role of Potassium in Potato Production

Potassium and frost

Potassium has an important role in the control of the plant water status and ionic concentrations inside plant tissues, including stomata. As a result of the improved cell strength that potassium provides, stress such as frost can be better tolerated, as study in India shows.

Potassium and potato yield

Potassium also influences the transport of nutrients and the movement of sucrose from the leaf to the tuber. Potassium is critical for high yields. In five trials across three years on K-rich volcanic soils (Ecuador), 107 lb K₂O/ac increased average yields by 4.7 t/ac.

Potassium form and potato yield

It is important that potassium availability is not limiting. Trials in Bulgaria show that potassium nitrate is a particularly effective formulation, providing readily soluble and quickly absorbed potassium and nitrate nitrogen in comparison with other potassium forms.

In South African trials, use of potassium nitrate in conjunction with calcium nitrate, ensures fast uptake of all three important elements enhancing yield over and above other products.

Potassium form and potato bruising

Potash reduces the level of tuber bruising. Sulfate of potash (SOP) in comparison, can lead to greater bruising than muriate of potash (MOP) when tubers with a high dry matter content are produced, as shown in UK trials.

Potassium form and dry matter

Sulfate of potash can provide higher dry matters than muriate of potash, as shown in studies in Denmark. Therefore is frequently the preferred form for processing potatoes.

General guidelines for potassium application

It is important that potassium availability is not limiting. Trials show that potassium nitrate is a particularly effective formulation, providing readily soluble and quickly absorbed potassium and nitrate nitrogen in comparison with other potassium forms. This makes potassium nitrate particularly effective in sidedressing applications during the bulking stage. Sulfate of potash is also an acceptable form for delivering potassium. Muriate of potash is less desirable as excess chlorides can reduce quality.