ADVANCE IN NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE POTATO PRODUCTION: IMPACTS ON YIELD TUBER QUALITY, NUTRIENT USE EFFICIENCY AND SOIL HEALTH

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important global food and cash crop with high nutrient requirements due to its shallow root system, rapid growth, and short growing season. This review synthesizes recent research on nutrient management strategies for improving potato growth, yield, tuber quality, nutrient use efficiency, soil health, and environmental sustainability. Balanced application of major nutrients, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, plays a critical role in vegetative growth, tuber initiation, bulking, yield formation, dry matter, starch accumulation, and processing quality. Secondary nutrients such as sulphur, calcium, and magnesium, along with micronutrients including zinc, boron, iron, and manganese, further support essential physiological and quality-related processes. Integrated nutrient management combining organic amendments, inorganic fertilizers, biofertilizers, and precision application techniques can improve nutrient availability, nutrient use efficiency, soil biological activity, and crop productivity while reducing fertilizer losses. Site-specific soil testing, variable-rate application, crop sensors, and enhanced-efficiency fertilizers offer additional opportunities for improving nutrient synchronization and minimizing nitrogen and phosphorus losses. However, nutrient imbalance, nitrate leaching, soil degradation, and environmental risks remain important challenges in intensive potato production. Major research gaps include cultivar-specific nutrient requirements, nutrient × climate interactions, long-term soil health responses, and economic optimization of sustainable nutrient practices. Overall, sustainable intensification of potato production requires an integrated, site-specific, and economically viable nutrient management approach that simultaneously optimizes yield, tuber quality, nutrient use efficiency, soil health, and environmental sustainability.