Michigan State University Extension
Soils & Soil Management - Fertilizer - 06109714
07/10/97
Potato Fertilizer Recommendations Extension Bulletin E-2220, April 1990
Maurice L. Vitosh Extension Soil Specialist Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
Boron
Boron (B) deficiency in potatoes is not recognized on mineral soils in Michigan, though it is known to affect netting of Russet Burbank potato tubers in Western states. Potatoes are considered to be a low responsive crop and sensitive to B fertilizer. On organic soils, 0.5 lb of B is recommended if the soil pH is above 7.0. Forms of Nitrogen Fertilizer
Nutrient Management to Protect Water Quality Extension Bulletin WQ-25, January 1996
Maurice L. Vitosh and Lee W. Jacobs Extension Soil Specialists Department of Crop and Soil Sciences Michigan State University
Nitrate forms of N fertilizer are more subject to loss than other forms. For example, calcium nitrate and ammonium nitrate are readily available sources of N for plants, but this N is also subject to immediate leaching when added to soil. Therefore, nitrate forms of N should not be used where leaching is a serious problem. Ammonium forms of N. such as urea or anhydrous ammonia, are preferred sources of N for most crops because they are not subject to immediate leaching when added to soil. Ammonium N must be converted to nitrate N before it can be leached or denitrified. This conversion to nitrate occurs rapidly under warm, moist conditions.
Nitrogen can also be lost by volatilization of gaseous ammonia if urea or N solutions containing urea are surface applied and not incorporated. Because the volatilization loss is difficult to assess and represents an economic loss to the farmer, all urea-containing fertilizers should be incorporated.