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

10 Sep 2001

Methodology

    2001 Methodology


    Two sites, which were on companion fields to the 2000 transect research described in the Justification section, were selected. One site was near Glyndon, MN and the other was near Galchutt, ND. Seven treatments were imposed in plots 10 ft. wide and 20 ft. long prior to seeding in early May. The treatments were:

    1. Check (no ammendments)
    2.200 lb gypsum/acre
    3.40 lb Mg/acre (as potassium magnesium sulfate)
    4.80 lb Mg/acre (as potassium magnesium sulfate)
    5.40 lb Mg/acre (as magnesium sulfate)
    6.1 ton/acre sugarbeet waste lime
    7.1 ton/acre dolomitic limestone

    Each treatment was replicated four times. Following treatment application, the corners of the experiment were geo-referenced, and metal cans were buried about 10 inches deep at the four corners. Flags were removed to allow field work and seeding by the cooperators.

    The sites were seeded in mid-May. Plant samples were taken at the 6-leaf stage on 6/18 at Glyndon, and at 6/19 at Galchutt. It was evident at that time that there were serious stand problems at Glyndon and severe root rot problems at Galchutt. It was determined at that time not to pursue some of the intense later plant and soil analysis that was originally planned in the project. Leaf samples were analyzed from each location, although the first replication at Glyndon was abandoned immediately due to lack of plants to constitute a sample.



    2002 Methodolgy


    Three sites have been identified for studies in 2002: 1) Glyndon, MN, 2) Galchutt, ND, and 3) Larimore, ND. The linear feature of poor sugarbeet growth being studied was not present in these fields in the 2001 non-sugarbeet crop, but growers normally do not see such features in rotational crops other than sugarbeet. A split-plot randomized complete block design with three replications will be used to study treatment differences. Treatments will be applied pre-plant and consist of the following:

    1.Check (no ammendments)
    2.100 lb Mg/acre (as magnesium sulfate)
    3.100 lb Mg/acre (as potassium magnesium sulfate)
    4.50 lb Mg/acre (as potassium magnesium sulfate)
    5.2 tons/acre dolomitic limestone
    6.4 tons/acre dolomitic limestone
    7.2 tons/acre sugarbeet waste lime
    8.2 lb B/acre (as 14% borate granules)

    One-half of each plot will be fertilized with 3 gal 10-34-0 per acre at seeding, with the seed. Plots will be seeded to the same variety at each location with seeding equipment and personnel from NDSU. Plots will be over-seeded and thinned to a uniform population. Plants at 6-leaf stage will be collected, weighed for dry matter content and analyzed for plant nutrients. Yield and quality will be taken at harvest.

    Soil samples will also be gathered from a transect spanning poor growing beets and better growing beets. Samples will be prepared and subjected to X-ray diffraction to understand the mineralogy of the poor growing areas to support any findings gathered from the treatment study.