ProCam is suggesting that early applications of foliar nutrition could be key to helping the 2024 crop of sugar beet establish, following a tricky winter.
Eastern counties agronomist, Ian Jackson, said that slumped soils following heavy rainfall had made creating a good seedbed difficult, with poor seedbeds delaying emergence.
While emergency authorisation has been granted for neonicotinoid seed treatments, early foliar nutrition could be useful to push the crop past the vulnerable twelve-leaf stage.
“It’s important that sugar beet achieves full ground cover as quickly as possible,” he said. “Not least to allow it to intercept maximum sunlight. But in many ways, sugar beet starts with a problem – in that it is drilled into cooler soils, which are unable to supply sufficient nutrients in its seedling stage.
“Even after an autumn maintenance application of phosphate (P) and potash (K), spring applications of these macronutrients are still required to counter the soil’s inability to supply adequate levels. However, soil-applied P can become locked onto the soil before it has achieved its goals, and K needs to be applied ahead of drilling to avoid seedling scorch, but the compaction from an extra set of wheelings can cause up to a 30% reduction in yield.”
He suggested a multi-nutrient foliar treatment alongside the first two herbicide sprays, such as Pro+ NutriBio – a macro and micronutrient application complimented with brown seaweed extract. This could be followed with Pro+ N-Viron PCA and boron with the third herbicide application for sustained nitrogen release.
“In farm observations, this approach has significantly increased the speed of ground cover over the last three years,” explained Ian. “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.
“Indeed, two growers used no solid N for a second year as they were impressed with how Pro+ N-Viron had performed previously when N was uneconomical to purchase. These crops also performed slightly better than most crops in their areas with a much reduced cost and prospects of carbon reduction income in future.
“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.”
Good practice dictates that aphicides are applied when aphid thresholds are reached, and to maximise spray cover, Ian notes that water volumes should be kept up and angled nozzles used.
. “Good spray coverage is needed on each leaf in order to get the best protection, and consider taking the opportunity to also apply manganese.
“Sugar beet is very sensitive to manganese deficiency. It’s a nutrient heavily involved in photosynthesis, so deficiency is a real issue in a crop that’s harvesting light to produce sugar.”
For more information go to www.procam.co.uk