Application of Soil Conditioners Can Improve Root Growth, Increase Nutrient Uptake, and Potato Tuber Yield.

The intensification of potato production in recent years has caused the degradation of soil health and soil productivity in potato growing regions. To maintain or increase tuber yield, the use of chemical fertilizers has increased in potato production systems. The potato crop has a poor root system and is not very efficient in nutrient uptake therefore, allowing most of the fertilizer applied to be leached into ground waters. Field studies were conducted at the San Luis Valley Research Center, Colorado State University, USA, to evaluate the ability of ‘nutrisorb’ (a soil conditioner) to increase root growth, plant nutrient uptake, and potato tuber yield and quality. Experimental treatments included the application of two rates of ‘nutrisorb’ (10.5 and 21 L/ha), and a control where no ‘nutrisorb’ was applied. ‘Nutrisorb’ application increased root mass by 68%. Macro and micro nutrient uptake was increased significantly when ‘nutrisorb’ was applied. Plants that received ‘nutrisorb’ application showed early tuber bulking as well as increased tuber bulking due to higher harvest index. Total and marketable (>4 oz., >6 oz., >10 oz.) tuber yield increased by 16%, 24%, 30%, and 59%, respectively, when ‘nutrisorb’ was applied. Tuber external defects (growth cracks, knobs, and misshapes) were significantly reduced when ‘nutrisorb’ was applied.  Data from these studies demonstrate that sustainable potato production can be achieved with the use of soil conditioners such as ‘nutrisorb’.