Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers for Improved Nutrient Management: Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i>)

Abstract

The improvement of fertilizer efficiency is driven by narrow profit margins, environmental concerns, and resource conservation. Fertile soil is the foundation for food production and successful civilizations; it is developed and maintained through the addition of nutrients lost through harvest. However, nutrient uptake by plants is inherently inefficient and the nutrients remaining in the soil after uptake can cause negative air and water resource impacts. In addition, poor fertilizer efficiency is a waste of natural resources and potentially reduces yields, crop quality, and grower profits. Enhancing fertilizer efficiency in potato is particularly important because relatively high rates of fertilizer and water are necessary to compensate for an inefficient rooting system and extreme sensitivity to deficiencies. Several new fertilizer materials have been designed to enhance fertilizer efficiency. The modes of action of these materials include: (i) slow or controlled release to meet plant need in a more timely fashion; (ii) addition of high charge‐density materials that isolate nutrients from interfering elements and compounds; (iii) complexation or chelation of the nutrient to enhance solubility; and (iv) modification of the micro‐site pH to enhance nutrient solubility.