COMBATING CLIMATE AND MARKET CHALLENGES WITH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY:
How to Achieve Premium Potato Quality and Stable Yields?
Modern vegetable production, particularly potato cultivation, has come under increasing pressure from climate extremes and market volatility in recent years. How can growers maintain production consistency, achieve a high proportion of first-class potatoes, and ensure optimal dry matter content under such conditions? To answer these questions, we spoke with agricultural experts and one of Croatia’s leading potato producers from the Međimurje region.
Potato production in Croatia has a long-standing tradition. However, the challenges facing growers today require a shift towards precision plant nutrition and continuous expert support in the field. In the Međimurje region, more specifically between the villages of Domašinec and Novakovec, the Šajnović family has been professionally cultivating potatoes for more than two decades. Today, they farm approximately 80 hectares of potatoes and, as co-founders of the producer company Agrobela, are part of a larger organisation that brings together five farming families cultivating a total of 200 hectares of potatoes, supported by modern storage facilities with a capacity of 3,500 tonnes.
From Drought to Flooding: The Production Challenges of Modern Agriculture
Twenty years of experience in potato production have shown that the traditional rules no longer apply. Market fluctuations are now accompanied by increasingly unpredictable climate conditions, leaving growers with little room to adapt.
“We are constantly faced with new challenges. For example, last year, 2025, brought exceptionally low yields as well as even lower market prices, while several years earlier we achieved excellent yields, but prices were disappointing. From a production perspective, the greatest challenge is the extreme distribution of rainfall. We experienced a situation where only 7 to 8 litres of rain per square metre fell throughout the entire month of April, followed by as much as 200 litres over the next five weeks. Under such conditions, both the soil and the crop are subjected to enormous stress,” explains Kristijan Šajnović.
To mitigate the impact of these extreme conditions, Kristijan decided several years ago to change his plant nutrition strategy and introduce Timac Agro technology into his production system. His initial objective was to find a controlled-release nitrogen solution, but the collaboration soon expanded to addressing more complex soil-related challenges.
Kristijan Šajnović cultivates potatoes on 80 hectares of farmland.
Soil Acidity and Phosphorus Lock-Up
The soils of the Međimurje region present a specific challenge that directly affects production profitability – high soil acidity. Goran Beliga, Sales Representative at Timac Agro for Varaždin and Međimurje Counties, points out that field analyses consistently indicate the need for soil improvement.
“Our chemical analyses conducted on the Šajnović family farm revealed a high level of soil acidity. In practice, this results in phosphorus lock-up, making phosphorus unavailable to the plant. Phosphorus is essential for the growth and development of the potato root system. When phosphorus is locked up, the plant effectively starves, regardless of how much fertilizer is applied,” explains Beliga.
To address this issue, Eurofertil Top 51 was incorporated into the base fertilization programme at planting. This granular fertilizer contains a specifically protected form of phosphorus, enriched with calcium to help correct soil acidity, as well as micronutrients that directly contribute to mitigating the negative effects of acidic soils.
“With this fertilizer, we successfully eliminated the problem of phosphorus lock-up while significantly improving the availability and uptake of other nutrients. The results were already evident in the first year, with improved potato quality and a higher proportion of first-class tubers,” says Beliga, adding that Timac Agro has proudly partnered with the Šajnović family for the past three intensive growing seasons.
Biostimulants for Higher Dry Matter Content and Stronger Skin
Once the soil nutrient base has been optimised, modern potato varieties require careful attention throughout the growing season. The Šajnović family cultivates varieties such as Belarosa, Camelia, Colomba, and Liseta. As these are dual-purpose varieties suitable for both boiling and baking, achieving the optimal dry matter content is a key factor in ensuring high-quality production.
As Šajnović explains, potatoes intended for baking require a higher dry matter content to maintain their texture, whereas those with lower dry matter content tend to break down more easily during cooking. To optimise these characteristics and maximise the genetic potential of each variety, the family incorporates Timac Agro biostimulants into their foliar crop nutrition programme, improving plant vitality and enhancing tuber quality.
Young potato tubers, trial-harvested on the Šajnović farm in mid-June, indicate a promising harvest for this season.
Nina Misirača, Product Manager for Central Croatia at Timac Agro, explains the technology behind these solutions:
“As part of the French Roullier Group, which has been dedicated to plant nutrition research for more than 65 years, we developed our first amino acid-based biostimulant back in 1989. In intensive vegetable production, these products are no longer a luxury—they are a necessity. Climate change and prolonged droughts continue to challenge crop production, while amino acids play a vital role in enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic stress.”
In potato production, Nina Misirača particularly highlights the foliar application of Fertiactyl Magical, which combines amino acids with calcium oxide and magnesium.
“Calcium is particularly important for potatoes because it directly contributes to the strength of the tuber skin. When applied correctly two to three times during the growing season, it produces tubers that are not only more visually appealing and firmer, but also have significantly improved long-term storage performance,” concludes Misirača.
Looking Ahead: A Partnership That Grows in the Field
Successfully competing in today’s demanding Croatian and European markets requires more than the application of standard NPK fertilizers. According to Kristijan Šajnović, the greatest value of the partnership with Timac Agro lies not only in its products, but also in the continuous technical support provided by the company’s experts.
“We have been working closely with Timac Agro for the past three years, and what I appreciate most is that their field representative is always with us in the field. Every challenge is addressed immediately and at the right time. We plan to maintain our current production area of 80 hectares of potatoes, and with this level of technology and support, I am confident that our partnership will continue well into the future,” concludes Šajnović.
Timac Agro Croatia emphasises its commitment to the motto “Agriculture Inspired by Nature” and invites all growers seeking expert agronomic support or looking to improve their yields to contact the company with confidence.
To learn more about Timac Agro products, please get in touch using one of the contact details provided below.
