Soil Characteristics and Nutrition of Poor-yielding Sugarbeet Areas
A research project to gather soil and topographic information about areas where sugar beets yield poorly. the information may help determine what can be done to ameliorate these poor yielding areas.
IPNI-2001-USA-ND11
2001 Annual Interpretive Summary
Soil characteristics and nutrition of poor-yielding sugarbeet areas, 2001 |
Sugarbeet growers in the Red River Valley have experienced poor yields in relatively linear areas of fields. Although these areas produce high yielding rotational crops, such as small grains or corn, sugarbeet growth and yields are reduced. Plant growth in these areas begins later than adjacent areas in the field located on similar soil mapping units. As the growing season continues, canopy coverage in affected zones slowly begins to fill in and resemble normal zones nearby, but yields are markedly reduced at harvest. The problem persists in the same areas on consecutive beet crops, but corn growth is not affected following beets. It is likely that a soil and/or landscape factor controls these zones.
In the year 2000, studies were conducted on transects within two beet fields exhibiting symptoms of stunting soon after emergence. Regression analysis of plant weight at the 6-leaf growth stage with soil and plant characteristics revealed a relationship with soil and plant magnesium (Mg) content. |