Symptoms
Calcium deficiency promotes the occurence of internal browning and hollow tubers.
Reasons
Calcium deficiency.
Boron deficiency can also trigger internal browning and hollow tubers. It is difficult to separate the symptoms.
Potatoes - Discolouration
Symptoms
Beginning discoloration of tuber pith. Calcium deficiency promotes the occurence of internal browning and hollow tubers.
Reasons
Calcium deficiency.
Can be confused with boron deficiency. It is difficult to separate the symptoms.
Potatoes - Deformation
Symptoms
Young shoot tips are deformed as the young leaflets are not developed properly. Remaining leaf stubs show dark brown necrosis.
Calcium deficiency is seldom seen on the leaves, as most soils contains enough calcium for leaf growth.
Reasons
Calcium deficiency.
Boron deficiency causes similar symptoms, but necrosis is normally seen between the veins and not only at the edge of the leaf as with calcium deficiency.
Potassium deficiency causes necrosis at the edge of the leaf, but symptoms are first visible on the older leaves. The leaves with potassium deficiency normally do not curl up.
Potatoes - Deformation
Symptoms
The margins of young, fully developed leaflets are cupped upwards.
Calcium deficiency is seldom seen on the leaves, as most soils contain enough calcium for leaf growth.
Reasons
Calcium deficiency
Potatoes - Discolouration
Symptoms
Beginning discoloration of tuber pith. Calcium deficiency promotes the occurence of internal browning and hollow tubers.
Reasons
Calcium deficiency.
Boron deficiency can also trigger internal browning and hollow tubers. It is difficult to separate the symptoms.
Potatoes - Deformation
Symptoms
The young leaf margins turn necrotic brown. Young shoot tips including the growing points die off. The same applies to flowers and flower stalks.
At severe deficiency, young developed leaflets roll upward with chlorosis and brown spotting.
Calcium deficiency is seldom seen on the leaves, as most soils contains enough calcium for leaf growth.
Reasons
Calcium deficiency.
Boron deficiency causes similar symptoms, but necrosis is normally seen between the veins and not only at the edge of the leaf as with calcium deficiency.
Potassium deficiency causes necrosis at the edge of the leaf, but symptoms are first visible on the older leaves. The leaves with potassium deficiency normally do not curl up.
Potatoes - Cracking
Symptoms
High levels of calcium in the tuber reduce bruising risks at harvest and subsequent transportation.
Reasons
Calcium deficiency.
In the field, moderate calcium deficiencies are unlikely to show leaf symptoms. Peel analysis is a good way of confirming whether a disease or skin finish problem is calcium related. A minimum of 0.15% Ca in the peel should be ensured.
Varieties vary in their calcium uptake.
Calcium deficiency/ internal browning made worse by
Acidic soils
Sandy or light soils (leaching)
Acid peat soils
Soils rich in sodium
Soils rich in aluminium
Drought conditions
Fruit high in nitrogen or potassium
Large fruit
Calcium is important for
Healthy green foliage
Improved yield and quality
Better storage potential of tubers
Yara recommended fertilizers for Calcium
YaraLiva™ NITRABOR™
Potatoes:
Apply 80 gms per sqm. at tuber formation.