Effect of Time and Amount of Nitrogen Uptake on Sugarbeet Growth and Yield

Carter, J.N. and Traveller, D.J. (1981) Effect of Time and Amount of Nitrogen Uptake on Sugarbeet Growth and Yield. Agronomy Journal. 73(4):665-671.

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Abstract

Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) root quality has been
steadily decreasing since the early 1951's with increased
use of N fertilizer. Since the extent of these decreases
may be associated with the time and amount of N uptake,
the objective of this study was to evaluate the
effects of several rates and times of N fertilizer applications
and N uptake by sugarbeets on seasonal growth
rates, sucrose percentage and accumulation, dry matter
production, and partitioning of the photosynthate.

Sugarbeets were grown under field conditions on a
Portneuf silt loam soil (Durixerollic Calciorthids, coarse-silty,
mixed, mesic) near Twin Falls, Idaho, in 1977,
using four N rates, each applied preplant, mid-June,
mid-July, and mid-August. Root yields, sucrose concentration
and yield, dry matter production, leaf area index,
and plant N uptake were determined from samples
taken throughout the season. Adding N fertilizer above
that needed for optimum plant growth or delaying N
application until midseason caused a greater proportion
of the photosynthate to be used for increased top growth
at the expense of dry matter and sucrose accumulation
in the roots. Sucrose accumulation was maximum from
late July until early September; therefore, during this
period, addition of N and N uptake by the plant caused
the greatest decrease in sucrose accumulation and production
at harvest. Increasing N levels decreased sucrose concentrations
during the season and at harvest because of
1) increased moisture level of roots, and 2) dry matter
produced and accumulated in the roots having a decreased
sucrose concentration. The rate of accumulation
of stored sucrose was reduced by midseason N application,
but stored sucrose was not used for increased
growth of beet tops. Excess and late N applications also
increased impurities in the beet root, decreasing extractability
of stored sucrose, which further decreased refined
sucrose production. Early application of N fertilizer at
optimum levels should maximize refined sucrose production.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0462
Subjects:	Irrigated crops > Sugarbeet Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:52
Last Modified:	23 Jan 2017 18:55
Item ID:	375
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/375