Exploring alternative Nitrogen sources in potatoes
Jack Hill, Key Account Manager, recently shared the latest results from grower trials of our flagship biostimulant product, Status®, and how it can be used as a viable alternative to traditional nitrogen fertilisers in potato production.
With fertiliser use accounting for around 45% of the carbon footprint of potato crops, the industry faces increasing pressure from consumers and the food supply chain in general to explore more sustainable options. Speaking alongside partners from Frontier, it was highlighted how the trials are helping growers challenge conventional nutrition strategies and reduce reliance on inorganic nitrogen.
The trial site near Necton, Norfolk was selected for its soil type consistency, mapped using SOYL electrical conductivity (EC) scanning and supported by drone imagery. Plots of 24m width were established to test how different nitrogen-fixing products compared against Status® under two nitrogen regimes: farm standard at 260 kg N/ha; and reduced input at 210 kg N/ha (a 50 kg/ha reduction).
The crop, variety Innovator, was irrigated with 200mm/ha and received the Status® applications on 22nd May at tuber initiation and 28 days later on 23rd June. Treatments also included nitrogen-fixing biologicals alongside two applications of Status® at 0.25 L/ha.
While overall results did not show significant differences in yield or dry matter between treatments, some important trends did emerge:
- Lowering nitrogen input by 50 kg/ha did not result in a significant drop in yield across the trial.
- Under reduced nitrogen (210 kg/ha), plots treated with Status® achieved 76 t/ha, outperforming the farm standard (260 kg/ha) which yielded 71 t/ha.
Jack emphasised that while the trial is ongoing, the findings already point to valuable opportunities. He tells us, “The 2025 potato grower season has been one of the most challenging on record, with multiple heat wave events and lack of rainfall putting pressure on irrigation systems and water availability. These trials show that there is real potential to rethink nitrogen use in potatoes. By integrating biostimulants like Status®, we may be able to support yield resilience by improving heat stress tolerance while reducing fertiliser inputs. This is not only important for profitability, but also for lowering the overall carbon footprint of potato production.”
The work will continue in future seasons to explore how far nitrogen inputs can be reduced sustainably and how different products perform across varying soil and seasonal conditions.
Find out more about Status® here.
25th September 2025
