Currently, the most common approach to potato production in the Czech Republic uses the soil protection technology of bed destoning. By this method, a local application of mineral fertilizers is recommended. To make the potato production more efficient, we carried out a two-year small-plot experiment monitoring the effect of nitrogen dose and the fertilizer application method on potato production. Two doses of nitrogen fertilizer (70 kg N ha–1 and 130 kg N ha–1) and two application methods (areal and local fertilization) were tested. The results for various experimental treatments were compared with a control plot. The best results (statistical significance P = 0.05) and the most efficient production of consumer tubers were achieved with the local application of 130 kg pure nitrogen per hectare (total yield 52.4 t ha–1, consumer tuber yield 89.1 %). Fertilizers applied near the future root hair are more accessible to plants and thus improve the crop nutrient uptake. Moreover, the local application method reduces nitrate water pollution, which complies with the Nitrates Directive and EU legislative requirements.
potato, dose of fertilizer, nitrogen, yield, tuber
Procházka, P., Holejšovský, J., Pazderů, K., Poděbradská, M. (2021): Benefits of Locally Applied Basic Fertilization for Efficient Potatoes Growing. Scientia Agriculturae Bohemica, 52, 76-82. DOI: 10.2478/sab-2021-0009