Exploring Potato Trials in Wales: How Liquid Fertiliser is Changing the Game

At Agro-Vital, we’re always looking for ways to improve crop yield with sustainable, low-input solutions. Recently, our team, led by Carl, headed to Wales to conduct a potato trial. This is part of a broader focus on creating better yields while lowering input requirements. Specifically, this trial examines the effectiveness of using a liquid placement fertiliser, aiming to deliver top-tier crop results with reduced reliance on granular phosphate fertilisers.

The Power of Liquid Fertiliser
The core question of this trial is simple: can liquid fertiliser help potatoes thrive without relying on as much phosphate? By lowering the use of granular phosphate, we aim to provide growers with a cost-effective, environmentally friendly option that doesn’t compromise crop quality. Initial observations are promising; the treated potato plots have grown robustly, blending seamlessly with the farm’s standard plots and showing no apparent difference in health or development.

Digging Deep: Our Process
To gather accurate data, we’ve established a thorough process. We’re digging three-metre-long sections of potato ridges randomly across the field to get a comprehensive view of the crop. Each section is then analysed with a grading system:

Size Categories: Potatoes are sorted into three categories - under 30 mm, 30-55 mm, and over 55 mm. We use precise grading tools to ensure consistency, allowing us to compare the results clearly.

Stem Counts: For each section, we’re also counting the number of stems, which will help us understand how plant density affects yield.

The random selection method adds a level of objectivity to the trial; an object is tossed to decide each new digging point, providing an unbiased distribution of sections. 

Promising Results
While it’s early days, the data gathered so far is pointing in a positive direction. Not only are the treated plots showing equivalent health to untreated plots, but the yield data from the graded sizes will provide insights into quality and market readiness. Karl and the team are hopeful that these results will reinforce the benefits of liquid placement fertilisers as a lower-input, high-performance solution for potato growers.

Stay tuned for more updates as we wrap up the trial, analyse our data, and dive into the final results. At AgriVital, we’re dedicated to supporting sustainable farming with innovations that matter.