journal article·2026-03-07Open access

Optimizing Nitrogen Fertilization in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cultivation: A Review Regarding Inhibitor Use, Multifaceted Assessment Indicators, and Pathways to Sustainable Intensification

Myrto Chatzitriantafyllou, Panteleimon Stavropoulos, Stavroula Kallergi, Antonios Mavroeidis, Ioannis Roussis, Stella Karydogianni, Dimitrios Bilalis, Ioanna Kakabouki

Applied Sciences· Volume 16· Issue 5

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), the world’s fourth most significant food crop, faces a critical sustainability challenge: meeting escalating global demand while mitigating the substantial environmental footprint of its production. Potato exhibits high nitrogen requirements, which makes conventional fertilization significantly inefficient, with nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) being below 40%, contributing to severe environmental losses, including nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions. In this comprehensive review, global research is examined regarding enhanced-efficiency nitrogen fertilizers, such as nitrification inhibitors (NIs), urease inhibitors (UIs), and slow-released fertilizers, which promote a pivotal strategy for sustainable potato cultivation. An extensive analysis is provided exploring the biochemical mechanisms of these inhibitors, their complex interactions with potato physiology, and also their impact on tuber yield, quality, and environmental footprint. These insights are combined with sustainable strategies to optimize nitrogen fertilization in potato cropping systems. Lastly, essential knowledge gaps, such as ongoing soil-health impacts and climate-change interactions, are underlined, and future directions of research are proposed to advance inhibitor utilization on potato production.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Potato Plant Research · Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism · Polymer-Based Agricultural Enhancements

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece

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