Improving Phosphorus Use Efficiency in the Future

World demand for phosphorus (P) fertilizer and increasing environmental regulations concerning water quality will continue to motivate the search for ways to improve P use efficiency in potato production. While much effort has gone into understanding P availability and uptake from soil, relatively little is known about the possibility of increasing uptake efficiency through genetic improvement or improved root health. Potato exhibits considerable genetic variation in uptake efficiency of nutrients like nitrogen, and it is likely that genetic variation also exists in P use efficiency. Increased efficiency may be due to differences in tuber yield per unit of available P (utilization efficiency), or in rate of P absorption from the soil (uptake efficiency). Likewise, genetic improvements in resistance to root-decaying pathogens, such as Verticillium dahliae, and improved control practices are likely to help maintain a healthy root mass to aid in maintaining P uptake during periods of higher P demand during the growing season.