Finding Your Fertilizer Match: How Precision Can Improve Profitability
{Sponsored} Often the key to profitable production lies in precision—delivering the right nutrients at the right time for every stage of growth. Taking a systems approach to potato nutrition doesn’t just mean increasing yields—it’s also about creating economic value. By improving nutrient use efficiency, growers can boost crop quality, achieve higher marketable yields, and maintain long-term soil health. Good agronomics is truly good economics.
Tailored Solutions for Every Stage of Growth
Potatoes often respond to fertilizer phosphorus (P) even at soil test levels considered very high for other crops. High levels of P in soil are frequently unavailable to plants, especially in elevated pH conditions. Inefficient P use not only limits crop potential but also raises environmental concerns. That’s where ICL’s tailored solutions come in, offering nutrients designed to maximize efficiency and profitability at different stages of growth:
- Polysulphate®: A naturally occurring multi-nutrient fertilizer providing potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Its gradual nutrient release ensures steady root development, stronger plants, and improved yields and quality. In Michigan trials, Polysulphate® increased #1 potato yield by 22.1% for Manistee potatoes and total yield by 17.6% for Lamoka potatoes, all while reducing fertilizer costs per acre compared to grower-standard practices. These results highlight its role in enhancing grower profitability, including support for longer-term storage for chip processing.
- Agrolution pHLow®: This acidifying fertilizer is ideal for fertigation, improving nutrient availability in high-pH soils. Its acidifying effect optimizes applied nutrients and unlocks soil reserves, resulting in increased nutrient efficiency. Field research shows that when paired with BIOZ® Diamond, Agrolution pHLow® can replace traditional starters like 10-34-0, offering higher or similar crop responses, increasing nutrient efficiency. By enhancing nutrient uptake and availability, it supports higher quality and yield outcomes for economic and environmental benefits.
- BIOZ® Diamond 10-0-1: Enriched with microbial food, this nitrogen fertilizer enhances soil health and nutrient assimilation. Its benefits are especially impactful during early-season growth, providing the foundation for robust tuber development and healthier crops. It also pairs well with Agrolution pHLow.
- Nova FLOW™: This high-performance water-soluble fertilizer (5-10-20 + 9Mg) is specifically formulated to provide essential macronutrients and micronutrients, including magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), and boron (B). Its balanced NPK ratio (5-10-20) supports strong, consistent growth, with secondary macros and micros to balance things out. Research shows that mid-season potassium applications, such as those provided by foliar applications of Nova FLOW™, can boost tuber production when applied just after flowering, which can improve marketable yields.
Precision Matters: A Balanced Approach
While nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) often dominate discussions, secondary macronutrients like calcium, magnesium, and sulfur play essential roles in potato production. Timing and nutrient source availability significantly impact overall yield and quality. For example, Polysulphate®’s secondary nutrients support sustained growth, while Agrolution pHLow® also contains micronutrients and improves nutrient efficiency in high-pH soils. Both products highlight the importance of balancing nutrition and tailoring nutrient strategies to specific growing conditions.
By combining innovative fertilizers like Polysulphate®, Agrolution pHLow®, BIOZ®, and Nova® products, ICL provides a holistic approach to potato nutrition. These solutions not only enhance yields and quality but also deliver measurable economic benefits by reducing fertilizer costs per acre and maximizing nutrient use efficiency.
From bud to spud, ICL has you covered. Find your fertilizer match today at icl-growingsolutions.us
