Importance of Soil : Potato Farming

 Soil is a substrate for plants to grow in. Soil provides support, nutrients, and a network of water and air to the plant’s roots.

Plants can grow without soil, but they will need structures to support them, the correct amount of water and air to their roots, and ample nutrients. This can be done in hydroponic and aquaponic systems. But its very expensive to create & maintain that system for large scale farming, so Soil is better way.

A basic purpose of soil is to be used as a substrate in which plants grow and obtain nutrients. Plant roots reach into soil pores and collect nutrients that are held in the soil. The roots reach toward water sources and pull the water toward the stem and leaves. Without the correct access to air, water, and nutrients, a plant would not survive.

Plants uptake nutrients through water. Not all nutrients are water soluble. Bacteria and fungus in the soil break nutrients from mineral and organic sources free making them water soluble for plants to use.

Plants need 17 essential nutrients. Of these, there are macronutrients and micronutrients.

The Macronutrients are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are largely absorbed via the air and water. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) are primary nutrients, and are the main things fertilized for.

Pic. Uptake of Macro- Nutrients: Primary:

Pic. Uptake of macro and secondary nutrients

The micronutrients are chloride, iron, boron, manganese, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and nickel. These are needed in very small amounts and are rarely fertilized for.

Pic. Uptake of micro-nutrients by vines and tubers of potato plants:

Role of Diff. Nutrients in Potato Growth:

However, plants also give back to the soil. Plant roots also help create smaller pores in the soil, which help serve as water and air channels in the soil. A healthy soil is only about 50% solids (minerals and organic material). The rest is pore space for air and water. Air is important in not drowning the plants. Pore space for water is important so that water can have channels to leave the field and prevent ponding