Balanced NPK Fertilization Boosts Sweetpotato Yield and Soil Health
A new open-access study published in BMC Plant Biology has revealed that balanced fertilization using nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) can dramatically enhance sweetpotato productivity and soil nutrient efficiency. Conducted in Luoyang, China, the field experiment assessed five treatments—control, no N, no P, no K, and full NPK—and showed that full NPK application increased storage root yield by 34.8–53.1% compared with nutrient-deficient treatments.
The researchers found that phosphorus deficiency caused the most severe yield reductions (48.9–57.4%), confirming its central role in energy transfer, root development, and nutrient balance. The logistic growth modeling and nutrient balance analysis demonstrated that phosphorus accumulation in storage roots was the most significant predictor of yield performance. Additionally, the study emphasized that optimal P application enhanced agronomic efficiency while preventing soil nutrient depletion.
According to researchers, integrated nutrient management is vital for sustainable sweetpotato farming. Balanced NPK fertilization ensures efficient nutrient use and stable yields, particularly through precise phosphorus regulation.
This research provides crucial insights for improving sweetpotato cultivation in nutrient-deficient soils and supports sustainable agricultural practices by balancing crop demand and soil fertility. It also highlights the need for site-specific fertilizer management to maximize productivity and ecological stability.
Reference
Zhao, Z., Bai, B., Qie, Z., He, Z., Zhang, S., Zhang, X., Li, Y., & Hou, W. (2025). Effects of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers on storage root yield, nutrient use efficiency, and soil nutrient balance of sweetpotato. BMC Plant Biology, 25(1), 1441. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07503-9
Related posts:
Boosting Sunflower Growth in Saline Soils: The Role of Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria and Phosphorus-Enriched Biochar
Biochar and Compost Together Boost Barley’s Drought Tolerance by Regulating Stress-Response Genes
Biostimulants and Smart Water Management Boost Common Bean Growth Under Drought Conditions
Microbes That Clean Greywater Also Boost Crop Growth
Native Fungus Beauveria bassiana Offers Dual Pest Control and Plant Growth Boost Against Cabbage Aphids
