Fertiliser additive aids spuds

4 February 2000




Fertiliser additive aids spuds

FOR the third year running fertiliser additive FTC has boosted growers potato yields by over 10%, says Dalgety.

"Across 235 crops and 34 varieties it gave an average 2.7t/acre or 11% yield increase, says national fertiliser specialist Colin Baron.

Grower experiences support his claim. "Ive no doubt there was a yield difference," says Nick Youngs, who grows 58ha (145 acres) of potatoes for processing at Sankence Farm, Aylsham, Norfolk.

An initial half field trial on Maris Piper in 1998 produced more potatoes over 50mm and a yield increase of about 6t/ha (2.4t/acre) on the sandy loam soil, he estimates.

"The biggest effect I saw was on the canopy. The FTC treated crop was greener with more foliage, and it matured earlier, so last year we did the whole lot. Im always very dubious about these additives, but FTC seems to work for us."

In Cheshire, Ian Crawford grows Saturna for crisping and Nadine for pre-pack on medium loam and black peat soils respectively. He tried FTC for the first time last spring.

Despite no visible difference in foliage, there was a quite startling yield response and both varieties produced a more even sized sample, he says.

Faster tuber bulking due to increased root and root hair production is thought to account for the consistent response seen in field appraisals, says Mr Baron. "But we dont know the whole story on how it works yet," he concedes.

Supplied either as a coating on solid fertiliser or as an additive for liquid fertiliser, FTC costs £62/ha (£25/acre). All applications should be made at, or up to two weeks prior to planting. "It is biodegraded in the soil in eight weeks. &#42

FTC field appraisals 1999

Variety No. crops Yield response

Maris Piper 58 +6.4t/ha (11%)

Estima 40 +7.1t/ha (12%)

Cara 18 +6.6t/ha (15%)

Results of 3x2m test digs in growers crops, FTC treated fertiliser v untreated fertiliser.


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