Potato nutrient management in Tasmania, Australia

This chapter presents data on the nutrient management practices of Tasmanian potato growers and data from Tasmanian and other research on tuber yield and quality responses to fertilizers. Together, this information shows that most growers apply more nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium than is removed in the tubers they harvest and in many cases more than can be justified on the basis of known responses to these elements. This behavior is discussed in relation to the risks of underfertilising on the one hand and the risks of environmental and food safety impacts on the other.