Sugarbeet Yield and Quality as Affected by Nitrogen Level

Carter, J.N. and Westermann, D.T. and Jensen, M.E. (1976) Sugarbeet Yield and Quality as Affected by Nitrogen Level. Agronomy Journal. 68(1):49-55.

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Abstract

This study was conducted, under several climatic and
soil conditions, to determine the effect of N level on
sugarbeet yield and quality and to further develop and
refine both soil and tissue test methods for predicting N
fertilizer needs for efficient refined sucrose production.
Previous studies indicate that N fertilizer needs for
maximum sucrose production may be predicted by considering yield potential and all N sources.

Sugarbeets (Beta vulgaris L.) were grown under field
conditions at N fertilizer levels varying from 0 to 448
kg N/ha on six sites throughout southern Idaho to determine
root yield, sucrose percentages, sucrose yield,
purity index, and plant N uptake in relation to the residual
NO₃-N, mineralizable N, fertilizer N, and petiole
NO₃-N. These experiments demonstrated that the N fertilizer
needs of sugarbeets can be determined by relating
the root yield potential to the measured residual NO₃-N
plus a measured or estimated mineralizable N level for
an area. Optimum N level from all available soil and
fertilizer sources has been found to vary between 5 to 6
kg/metric ton of beet roots produced. Using data from
the current experiment and a previous study, N fertilizer
could be predicted within 56 kg N/ha of that needed for
maximum sucrose yield in 83% of the sites using measured
NO₃-N and mineralizable N levels, 67% using measured
NO₃-N and average mineralizable N levels, and only
12.5% using recommendations by fieldmen. Linear correlations
were found between the total available N, total
plant N uptake, other plant N variables, and root
quality factors, like percentage sucrose and impurity index.
These relationships confirm previous findings and
will be useful for predicting root quality, optimum arrest
date, and for verifying recommended fertilization practices.
The use of the proposed soil and tissue test will
improve root quality and sucrose production, as well as
production efficiency, that will economically benefit the
consumer, producer, and manufacturer.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0342
Subjects:	Irrigated crops > Sugarbeet Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:51
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2017 20:28
Item ID:	298
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/298