How researchers are trying to find the 'sweet spot' for fertilizer in P.E.I.’s potato fields

Muzammil Hussain September 16, 2026

Two women in a potato field carry shovels and bags of potatoes.

Researchers on P.E.I. say many farmers are planting legumes like alfalfa in rotation with potatoes, giving the soil a nitrogen boost. That means they can use less fertilizer, saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. CBC’s Nancy Russell explains.

Researchers on P.E.I. say many farmers are planting legumes like alfalfa in rotation with potatoes, giving the soil a nitrogen boost. That means they can use less fertilizer, saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. CBC’s Nancy Russell explains. Two women in a potato field carry shovels and bags of potatoes.

Researchers on P.E.I. say many farmers are planting legumes like alfalfa in rotation with potatoes, giving the soil a nitrogen boost. That means they can use less fertilizer, saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. CBC’s Nancy Russell explains.