Foliar nutrition has key role in rapid beet establishment

Early applications of foliar nutrition could be key to helping sugar beet crops establish following the wet winter.

With slumped soils causing havoc for seedbed creation, early foliar nutrition help crops grow past their most vulnerable 12-leaf stage for aphid-borne virus transmission, says ProCam agronomist Ian Jackson.

“It’s important that sugar beet achieves full ground cover as quickly as possible – not least to allow it to intercept maximum sunlight. But sugar beet starts with a problem – it is drilled into cooler soils unable to supply sufficient nutrients to seedlings.

“Spring phosphate and potash are still required after autumn maintenance applications. But soil-applied phosphate can lock up before it achieves its goals and applying potassium before drilling to avoid seedling scorch can cause compaction.”

 To give sugar beet crops an early boost, Mr Jackson suggests applying a multi-nutrient foliar treatment, such as Pro+ NutriBio, with the first two herbicide sprays to provide a balanced range of macro and micronutrients.

Growers should then switch to a polymer urea treatment, such as Pro+ N-Viron PCA, plus boron with the third herbicide spray to supply a sustained release of nitrogen to help expand the leaves across the rows.

Ground cover

“In farm observations, this approach has significantly increased the speed of ground cover over the last three years,” says Mr Jackson.

“Last year, treated crops grew through the early 30 degree heat which stopped most crops in their tracks for three weeks. Other crops give very good responses to foliar urea polymers, but sugar beet seems to be in a different league.”

Two growers used no solid nitrogen for a second year because they were impressed with the way Pro+ N-Viron performed, says Mr Jackson. These crops proved to be better than most beet in their local area with a much reduced cost, he adds.

Heart rot 

“Including boron at this stage is a very pertinent consideration this season after the wet winter because it’s very leachable. Boron is needed during rapid cell division and deficiencies result in heart rot in sugar beet, something which is critical to avoid.”

Where aphicides are being applied to target virus transmission, Mr Jackson says these must be applied according to when aphid thresholds have been reached.

To maximise spray coverage, growers should keep up water volumes and use angled nozzles. This will help ensure good spray coverage – giving the best protection on each leaf.

Growers should also consider applying manganese.

“Sugar beet is very sensitive to manganese deficiency,” says Mr Jackson. “It’s a nutrient heavily involved in photosynthesis, so deficiency is a real issue in a crop that’s harvesting light to produce sugar.”