Potatoes - Deformation
Symptoms
Edges and tips of the lower leaves become yellow and later necrotic. Eventually, the marginal yellowing spreads between the veins as the deficiency progresses. Leave margins curl up. The leaves often wither and collapse prematurely.
Plant growth is squat and stunted.
Reasons
Potassium deficiency
Potatoes - Discolouration
Symptoms
Potassium deficient tubers show black spots. When cut, they blacken rapidly.
The spots mostly occur near the vascular ring at the stolon end of the tuber.
Reasons
Black spot due to potassium deficiency
Potatoes - Deformation
Symptoms
Edges and tips of the lower leaves become yellow and later necrotic. Eventually, the marginal yellowing spreads between the veins as the deficiency progresses. Leave margins curl up. The leaves often wither and collapse prematurely.
Plant growth is squat and stunted.
Reasons
Potassium deficiency
Potatoes - Deformation
Symptoms
Edges and tips of the lower leaves become yellow and later necrotic. Eventually, the marginal yellowing spreads between the veins as the deficiency progresses. Leave margins curl up. The leaves often wither and collapse prematurely.
Plant growth is squat and stunted.
Reasons
Potassium deficiency
Potassium deficiency made worse by
- Acidic soils (low pH)
- Sandy or light soils (leaching)
- Drought conditions
- High rainfall (leaching)
- or heavy irrigation
- Heavy clay (illite) soils
- Soils with low K reserves
- Magnesium rich soils
Potassium is important for
- Improved yield and quality
- Increased tuber size
- Improved disease resistance
