Potato Review

12 POTATO REVIEW NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 FERTILISATION T HE Jersey Royal Company has managed to save £300,000 over six years after introducing new methodology and joining an action group to improve the island’s drinking water quality. e company, which has been growing, packing and supplying the internationally- recognised and protected Jersey Royal new potato to UK retailers for more than 20 years, is a member of the Action for Cleaner Water group, which has played a key part in implementing a ve-year Water Management Plan introduced in 2016 by the island’s Environment Minister. e introduction was in response to ndings that Jersey’s drinking water contained more than 50 mg / litre of nitrogen. Mike Renouard, Business Unit Director, who represents e Jersey Royal Company in the group, asked EngineeringManager Ricky Gallon to look at solving two key objectives to reduce the amount of nitrogen the company uses in its elds. First, Ricky was asked to nd a way to reduce the amount of fertiliser the company was using. Secondly, he was tasked with nding a way of applying fertiliser in a much more targeted way. Before 2016, like most potato growers, e Jersey Royal Company used a spreader to apply fertiliser to its elds before hand-planting. Ideally, the company wanted to place the fertiliser directly into the row underneath the tubers. Disappointed with the accuracy of combining a wheel-driven applicator and power harrow and faced with limited machinery options on the island, Ricky returned to his roots to nd a solution. Becoming a collaborator on island’s clean water group has brought its own rewards for e Jersey Royal Company. Water-driven decision pays dividends Ricky Gallon Mike Renouard David Goodale