During bulking, calcium is necessary to maintain good cell structure and cell wall strength as the cells expand and the tubers grow. Stronger cell structure helps minimize bruise and infection by pectolytic bacteria thereby reducing waste and increasing payable yield at harvest. Optimal calcium in the foliage and in the tubers helps to create a strong physical barrier to pathogen infection and neutralizes enzymes that the pathogens use to break down and feed on potato plant cells. Also, calcium signals drought from the roots to the leaves causing stomata to close and thus reducing transpiration and helping protect the crop during potential drought situations. YaraLiva® calcium nitrate products supply soluble calcium that can help reduce everyday stress that your crop encounters during the bulking season.
Calcium is key throughout the life of the plant, right through to harvest. Roots need calcium for growth and a consistent supply is directly related to early fruit growth, healthy cell division, and the overall strength and health of fruits and vegetables. Alongside potassium, nitrogen is the plant nutrient required in greatest quantities. Nitrogen is key for chlorophyll production and plays a major role in cell division, growth of new tissues and root system development.
The preferred form of nitrogen for plant uptake is nitrate, and plants can be susceptible to ammonium-nitrogen toxicity, especially in cool wet soils. Higher plants, including many fruit and vegetable species, are especially sensitive to ammonium. Nitrogen sources in the form of urea or ammonium take time to convert to nitrate in the soil, leaving plants vulnerable. With fully soluble calcium and nitrate-nitrogen, YaraLiva products guarantee these critical nutrients are quickly and efficiently available to crops.
Calcium is essential for proper plant growth and plays an important role in potato storage and quality. Inadequate availability of calcium can lead to increased soft rot, internal brown spot, hollow heart and bruising. Tuber size and number are also affected by calcium deficiency. Research shows that tuber calcium is increased by placing soluble Ca near tubers and stolons during bulking. The result is improved potato quality and storability.
Potato soft rot due to calcium deficiency.
Bruising on potato tubers from a calcium-deficient plant.
Storage rot on the left, healthy tuber on the right.
Season after season, growers are faced with a variety of environmental stresses that are simply out of the industries' control. While nature and weather will take its course, with YaraLiva Calcium Nitrate growers can give their plants and trees the strength needed to protect against environmental stresses such as heat, drought, salinity and excessive sodium.