Boosting Potato Dry Matter with Smarter Nutrition – The Damu Advantage

In potato production, yield isn’t the only benchmark of success—quality matters just as much. And when it comes to quality, one metric rises above the rest: dry matter content.

Why Dry Matter Matters

Dry matter, the solid content left after water is removed, determines more than just processing suitability—it impacts:

• Texture and taste for cooking and processing
• Frying quality (less oil uptake, more crunch)
• Storage stability
• And ultimately, economic returns for growers and processors alike.

Processors pay premiums for dry matter levels above 20%, and the best crisping varieties aim even higher. But achieving these numbers consistently—especially post-harvest—is a challenge.

The Source–Sink Challenge

As harvest approaches, carbohydrate transport slows. Sugars produced in the leaves (source) aren’t always effectively delivered to the tubers (sink), especially under stress or sub-optimal boron availability. This inefficiency leads to:

• Smaller tubers
• Lower dry matter
• Higher losses during storage.

That’s where Damu comes in.

Understanding Boron’s Dual Role in Growth and Bulking

Boron plays a unique dual role in potatoes. It not only helps move sugars from leaves to tubers but also regulates plant hormone balance—especially during periods of rapid vegetative growth.

When nitrogen levels are high, plants produce more auxins, which encourage leafy top growth at the expense of tuber development. Boron helps to moderate this response by decreasing auxin activity and increasing cytokinins and gibberellins. This shift promotes greater tuber initiation and bulking.

Potato plants under boron stress struggle to move carbohydrates effectively, especially when growing quickly due to high nitrogen. Damu corrects this imbalance—supporting both yield and dry matter by keeping the crop focused on sink development when it matters most.

Damu: Directing the Traffic

Damu is a foliar-applied product containing boron with Catalyst technology that enhances source-to-sink transport. Unlike standard boric acid, Damu actively facilitates the movement of sugars out of leaves and into developing tubers.
As our research team describes it, “Damu doesn’t just feed the plant—it directs traffic.”

What the Data Shows

In a commercial field trial on Solanum tuberosum (var. Royal) in northeast England, we tested Damu at 5 L/ha applied prior to canopy senescence:

The Takeaway

For growers and processors looking to add value per tonne, Damu offers a simple but powerful solution:

• Enhances carbohydrate transport
• Improves tuber dry matter and quality
• Boosts overall yield by promoting better sink development
• Helps potatoes store better, process better, and pay better.

Whether for crisps, fries, or fresh market quality, Damu helps ensure the carbohydrates end up where they count—in the tuber.

🔗 Learn more about Damu and our ongoing research at https://levitycropscience.com/damu