How to influence potato starch content

Potatoes are one of the most important sources of starch worldwide.

Variety choice is very important and potatoes with greater than 13% starch content are required in countries such as Germany. The higher the starch content, the lower the waste.

Crop Nutrition and Potato Starch Content

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient to fuel canopy growth, however in temperate climates, an excess supply of nitrogen at later stages of growth will keep the crop growing, delaying maturity and may reduce starch content, reducing processing potato crop quality.

Phosphate

Phosphate fertiliser use can influence starch quality. By increasing the tuber phosphate content, the viscosity of the gelatinised starch is also increased and the gelatinisation temperature decreased.

This data shows the relationship between tuber phosphate content and starch quality, as measured by viscosity.

Recommended Yara fertilisers for potatoes

YaraVita ZINTRAC 700

YaraVita Zintrac 700 is a highly concentrated flowable zinc

YaraVita MAGFLO 300

YaraVita Hydromag Liquid is a highly concentrated flowable formulation contains almost 3 times more magnesium than epsom salts.

YaraVita BORTRAC 150

YaraVita Bortrac 150 is a concentrated liquid boron formulation manufactured to exacting quality control standards to guarantee consistent analysis, crop safety and product performance.

YaraMila 8-11-20

YaraMila (8-11-20) is a high quality, granular NPK product which also contains sulphur and micronutrients.

YaraMila COMPLEX

YaraMila Complex (12-5-15) is a high quality, prilled NPK product which also contains magnesium and sulphur as well as micronutrients.

YaraBela CAN-27

YaraBela CAN-27 contains 27% total Nitrogen, 50% in the nitrate form

YaraLiva NITRABOR

YaraLiva Nitrabor (15.5% N + 18% Ca + 0.3% B) is a high quality calcium nitrate product, with added boron, for field application.

See all fertilisers products

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