Potatoes: productivity and efficiency from the start

Potato cultivation: efficiency as a decisive factor

“Today, producing potatoes requires well-founded technical decisions from soil preparation to the tuber filling phase”, emphasizes the consultant.

Balanced nutrition and biological soil management therefore play a central role in ensuring productivity, commercial quality, and economic sustainability.

Base nutrition: balance and efficiency from the start

The start of the crop is a critical phase, where base nutrition must ensure balanced nutrient availability and create favorable conditions for root development.

For this phase, Bruno Azinheirinha highlights the BluDiamond® Solplex Mycotec, an NPK (Ca-Mg-S) fertilizer with mycorrhizal fungi, suitable for base or top application in potato cultivation.

“This fertilizer ensures a balanced nutrition right from the start, with nitrogen predominantly in the ammoniacal form, the preferred form for potatoes, allowing for a more balanced leaf area growth and more energy-efficient”, explains Bruno.

Nitrogen in the ammonium form (NH₄⁺) is absorbed directly by the plant, reducing losses and the energy expenditure associated with assimilation. The presence of mycorrhizal fungi also contributes to the development of a mycelial network, increasing the capacity for water and nutrient absorption by the roots and enhancing the overall efficiency of the crop.

Biologically active soil: releasing nutrients and gaining efficiency

Potato productivity strongly depends on the biological state of the soil. Biologically active soils have a greater capacity to make nutrients available and support the development of the crop throughout the cycle.

In this context, Bruno Azinheirinha highlights the application of VitaSoil, a natural microbial complex with a regenerative action on the soil microfauna.

“When we manage to biologically activate the soil, we release nutrients that are often retained and unavailable to the plant, improving nutritional efficiency and crop performance,” says the consultant.

The application of VitaSoil is directed to the soil, accompanying the early stages of plant development, promoting greater activity in the rhizosphere, nutrient solubilization, and better utilization of applied fertilization.

Biological nitrogen: support for the leaf area in critical phases

During vegetative development, maintaining an active and functional leaf area is crucial to ensure the productive potential of the potato crop.

For this purpose, Bruno Azinheirinha recommends Utrisha-N, a solution based on the bacteria Methylobacterium symbioticum, capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen and quickly colonizing the plant's rhizosphere.

“The Utrisha-N helps to strengthen the leaf area by assisting in keeping the plant active and functional during the critical phases of the cycle”, emphasizes the consultant.

This biofertilizer contributes to sustaining photosynthetic activity, supporting balanced crop development, and enhancing its productive potential.

Tuberization and filling: quality and uniformity of the tubers

During the tuberization and filling stage, efficient nutrient uptake is particularly important, as it directly affects the size, uniformity, and market quality of the tubers.

At this stage, Bruno Azinheirinha recommends using Vitol, a fertilizer featuring Micro-Carbon Technology (MCT), which enhances the plant’s physiological processes and increases nutritional efficiency.

Bruno explains that, “Vitol helps increase the efficiency of nutrient absorption, which results in better filling, greater uniformity, and higher quality of the tubers”.

The reinforcement with boron and magnesium at this stage also improves the quality of the skin and increases the specific weight, determining factors for the commercial value of the production.