sugar beet technologists 19 42

GENERAL SESSIONS

A Research Opportunity

B. COKE 1

The country's attention was centered on the development of off-shore sugar supplies. However, I strongly recommend further investigation by the community into the industry's establishment of a coordinating research project.

Old Timers

Mark was introduced as one of the pioneers of sugar beet farming in America. The following were then introduced in order of length of service: Charles L.

Sugar-Beef By-Prod ucts and Their Place in Idaho Agriculture

In four experiments at the Colorado Experiment Station, beet molasses was worth about 8 6 percent of the feed value of grain. determines for the by-products listed above a value of about 28 percent of peso payments, or about 22 percent.

Virus Diseases of Sugar Beets

Near the permanent percentage of drying, the resistance increases very rapidly with decreasing moisture content. This simply means that under the field conditions experienced, the blocks were fairly good indicators of soil moisture conditions.

Figure 1.—Electrical resistance as a function of time when blocks are first sat- sat-urated, and after having the excess water wiped off, are placed in Yolo fine sandy loam of the moisture content shown

Practical Control of Date of Irrigation by Means of Soil-Moisture Blocks

Differences in soluble salt content and soil temperature cause variations in ohmic resistance. The results of the 1941 studies lead to the conclusion that by using this method of studying the movement of soil moisture, a lot of water can be saved, especially on sandy soils.

Studies of Moisture Requirements of Sugar Beets 1

Absorbent blocks were placed in some of the jars to determine the relationship between the resistance readings and the amounts of water in the soil. The effects on yield of the amount of irrigation water were only small and the differences were not significant.

Figure 1 .- Acre-yield of gross sugar in t o n s for the 9 different irrigation methods used

Some Soil-Moisture Conditions in Relation to Growth and Nutrition of the

Sugar-Beet Plant 1

The third series of plots was not irrigated until the soil moisture was reduced to the permanent wilting percentage in the top 3 feet of soil. The amount of nitrogen (in the form of nitrate-nitrogen per acre) in the top 5 feet of the soil is given in figure 4.

Fig. 7.—Weight of green leaves, oven-dry leaves, and percentage nitrogen in dry leaves for sugar beets (S

Sugar-Beet Growth and Soil-Moisture Study

Medium T r e a t m e n t : The permanent wilt percentage was reached or closely approached twice in the first, second and third foot depths of soil during the season. The relative humidity of the air was the same in all irrigation treatments, and clearly higher than in the adjacent open field.

The Relationship of Nitrogen to the Formation of Sugar in Sugar Beets 1

Changes in nitrate content of the outer blade (table 3) for June 1 were not significant, while the results for the inner blades (table 4) were erratic. The relationship of nitrate content of pods with sugar beet yields (figure 2) is of interest. Peak growth (figure 3) tended to follow the nitrate content of the outer leaves of sugar beet.

The fresh weight of the tops for (2N) beets on 10 August reached a higher maximum than (N) beets on 13 July.

Table 2.—Summary of results for sugar beets grown in nutrient solutions.

Plant-Food Elements in Sugar Beets Throughout the Growing Season

Beet seedlings contained almost 1 percent calcium in root dry matter and 1.6 percent in tops. The limited scope of this research undoubtedly leaves many gaps in the picture of sugar beet plant uptake. This experiment is interesting because of the picture it gives of the sugar beet plant at different stages of growth and shows the need for adequate plant nutrients available throughout the growing season.

There is a differential call for plant food elements in roots and tops, which varies considerably as the growing season progresses.

Table I.—Fresh and Dry Weights of Beets at Various Stages of Growth (In tons per acre based upon harvested weight of 15 tons per acre)

Phosphorus and Nitrogen Deficiency Symptoms in Sugar Beets

Analyzes show that the weight of bronze leaves is less than the mass of ordinary leaves, and it is also lower in percentage and in the total amount of phosphorus and nitrogen present. Symptoms of combined deficiency are believed to be a more sensitive indication than symptoms showing deficiency of elements alone. Yield changes of 2 to 4 tons per hectare are not easily seen in the field.

A difference of 0.2 pounds in the weight of two beets can hardly be detected by visual observation, but that small difference represents an increase in the yield of the larger beet over the smaller of 5,200 pounds per acre.

Soil Deficiencies as Related to Sugar-Beet

Seed Production in the Willamette

Valley, Oregon

The difference in the weight of the seed area of the plants could be detected until June 30. The seed balls of the four species were large and remained green until ripe. Early observations showed that nitrogen played an important role in plant color and growth.

Beet leaves in the experimental plot that had not received a borax application were badly frozen, and the only green growth remaining by spring was the young central leaves of some of the plants.

A Study with Sugar Beets on Two Fertility Levels of Soil

A study of the results of this test shows that the trend in fertilizer response favors the application of 40 pounds of plant food for the sugar variety and the application of 80 pounds for the tonnage variety. Significant differences were shown for each of the treatments in the amount range at the lower dose. On the unfertilized plots, the yield decrease was greater for the tonnage variety than for the sugar variety, both distances combined.

The sugar variety made more efficient use of smaller applications of plant foods, and the tonnage variety responded to more generous fertilization.

Table 3.—Results of sluicing tests with two varieties of sugar beets, grown on two fertility levels of soil—1940

Fertilizers—Manner of Application

Phosphate applied with the seed in excess of 75 pounds per acre apparently does not give a response in keeping with that from
Optimum point seems to be an application of 50 pounds per acre with the seed and between 100 and 150 pounds per acre either
Quantities in excess of 200 pounds per acre do not seem war- ranted economically regardless of manner of application
It appears desirable to apply up to 50 pounds per acre with seed

Both varieties produced significantly higher sugar yields per hectare for both spacings under fertilization, compared to the unfertilized control plots. Phosphate applied at the seed rate of more than 75 pounds per acre apparently does not give a response consistent with that of acre apparently does not give a response consistent with that of other methods of application. The optimum point appears to be an application of 50 pounds per acre with the seed and between 100 and 150 pounds per acre with the seed and between 100 and 150 pounds per acre either seeded or broadcast.

Amounts above 200 pounds per acre do not appear to be economically warranted, regardless of application method.

Table 1.— Phosphate application studies—West J o r d a n District—1940

Use of Manures for Sugar Beets

Horse, cattle, and sheep manures are of equal value for use on sugar beets if value is based upon the dry-matter content of the ma-
Six tons of manure per acre produced the greater increase in yields for each ton of manure
The maximum production per acre was obtained by the use of 12 tons of manure per acre
The use of 18 or 24 tons of manure does not increase the yield sufficiently to recommend the use of more than 12 tons per acre per
Greater returns were obtained by the use of manure on low- yielding; fields than on the fields of higher production
Phosphate was beneficial where used with a light application of manure

Adding 6 tons of manure per acre along with 150 pounds of phosphate gave a greater increase than using either 150 pounds of phosphate or 6 tons of manure. Using 150 pounds of phosphate and 6 tons of manure per acre did give an increase in yield closer to that produced by 12 tons of manure than that produced by 6 tons of manure. Six tons of manure per acre produced the greater increase in yields for each ton of manure.

The maximum production per acre was achieved by using 12 tons of fertilizer per acre.

Table 4.—Analysis of variance of yield of tons of sugar-beet roots front plots vari- vari-ously treated with manure,

Resume of Commercial Fertilizer Studies With Sugar Beets 1

It was observed early on that the percentage of inorganic nitrogen in the fertilizer formula could quickly be exaggerated, which would be detrimental to germination. Immediately after thinning the beets, additional fertilization was applied with the type of fertilizer as described in the treatment plan. Experience in the Arkansas Valley shows that the percentage of nitrogen in the fertilizer mixture should be kept fairly low to avoid damage to the seedlings.

The application of potash in the fertilizer mixture is still at an experimental stage.

Table 3.—Low-fertility field—Rocky Ford, Colorado, 1941

Increasing Sugar-Beet Yields Through Early Planting

W. SKUDERNA 1

The comparison planting took place on April 25, using 11 of the 12 varieties included in the early planting date. This later date was chosen as representative of the average date when most of the sugar beet acreage in the Arkansas Valley was planted. The early planting was thinned to a distance of 8 inches in the row in mid-May, and the mid-date planting was thinned three weeks later on June 6.

Bolter counts were taken at monthly intervals, all of which appear in the table of results.

Table 1 ----Very early versus average date of planting sugar beets.

Steer and Lamb-Feeding Trials With Various Forms of Sugar-Beet Pulp 1

Dried beet pulp $ 6.77 per head Lot II Pressed beet pulp 11.16 per head

Profit rate.- The profit rate of the silo pulp lambs in this year's trial was significantly higher than the other three lots. Weighing.-The lambs were given a 10-day pre-feed to get them on feed before the initial weights were taken. Mortality.-The mortality loss in this trial was about 1 percent which is lower than is usually experienced.

Rate of Gain.-The rate of gain of the siloed pulp iambs (0.335 pounds per day) was significantly higher than that of the other three lots, especially when compared with the amount of grass hay (0.241 pounds per day) it received the standard ration used by lamb feeders in the district.

Beet-Sugar Production as Influenced By Climate 1

In the case of Yolo clay loam, sufficient amounts of phosphorus and potassium were added with nitrogen. When the experiments were repeated in 1941, a new quantity of Yolo clay was obtained within a few feet of the first section and then prepared as in 1940. Analytical Methods.—Yields were obtained by weighing the beets without overlying soil. according to the methods prescribed by the sugar beet companies.

All analyzes were made by Spreckels Sugar Company at their Woodland refinery.

13 APR

4- MAY I

JUNE 6

3 AUG

7 5 SEPT. OCT

In 1940, yields at Berkeley for the comparable treatments of the two soils were not significantly different, while yields for the 2N treatment of the Metz sludge at Woodland were higher than for the 2N treatment of the Yolo sludge. Yields for the 2N and 4N treatments of the Metz slurry at Woodland were higher than those at Berkeley, while there was no significant difference for the untreated soil at the two sites. The yield of the untreated Yolo sludge was higher at Woodland than at Berkeley, but there was no difference for the 2N treatment.

The net effect of the higher yields and lower sugar percentages at Woodland was a similar sugar production at the two locations.

WOODLAND

At Berkeley and at Woodland, the Metz silt loam produced higher yields than the corresponding treatment for the Yolo silt loam. This difference resulted in a significant increase in yield for the 4N treatment of the Yolo series at Berkeley over the corresponding treatment at Woodland. The net effect of the higher sugar percentages at Woodland was a higher sugar production in every case except in the 4N treatment of the Yolo range.

In the following year, all the sugar percentages and some of the yields were clearly higher at Woodland than at Berkeley.

Table 2.—Comparison of degree hours in 1940 to 1941 at Woodland and Berkeley. 1

Multiple Versus Single-Factor Experiments

Sugar beet seed production in southern Utah with special reference to fertilization and other cultural

Comparative Efficiency of Lattice and Random-Block Designs for a

Sugar-Beet Variety Test 1

PROCEDURE THIRD GENERAL MEETING 183 The average yields and adjusted average yields of the varieties are given in table 1 according to the order of the varieties' yields. Of the five highest yielding varieties, the variety that was ranked fifth in the randomized block design was changed to eighth in corrected yields and the sixth was raised to fifth. The four lowest varieties were the same and in the same order by both analyses.

When all varieties with yields above the mean of the randomized block test are selected, both designs include the same varieties in the first twenty-one locations.

Table 1.—Mean yields of the randomized-block test and corrected rnean yields the lattice-design test ranked in the order of yield of the varieties

Pre-Harvest Estimate of Yield and Sugar Percentage Based on Random-

Sampling Technique

Is the method legitimate or sound?
Will it be precise and accurate?
Will the cost be excessive?
Actual losses incident to harvest such as loss of whole beets In the field or along* the road, lower topping- by the labor than was
A geographic stratification by fieldman territories might be more practical than the one used which was based on 3-year previous
If contracts smaller than 5 acres in size are included, it is recommended that a sub-stratification based on contract acreage be
Take but one sample per field, and determine the number of fields to sample based on the precision level desired
The farms chosen proved to be almost perfect samples for the Colorado and Nebraska districts and also for the Lovell factory
The results indicate for this year a large increase in per- centage of sugar and striking losses in final delivered-per-acre yields
The stratification, which was based on previous 3-year yield records, proved effective for all but one factory district
The variance between the 2 samples per field was small, and it is shown that by increasing the number of fields 14 percent, the
The necessary number of fields with 1 or 2 samples per field was calculated for each factory district for sampling precision levels
Suggestions are made for changes in future studies to in- clude: (a) Geographic stratification, (b) using a sub-stratification

Final harvest data for these same farms is on this map for the mid-harvest date. Final crop data for these same farms is shown in this graph for the mean harvest date. We have no explanation for the small apparent stand loss between the two pre-harvest dates.

Future considerations of sampling rates should be based on the data for the later sampling.

Figure 3.—Mean of pre-harvest samples for the Novell, Wyoming, factory plotted in a growth curve, which Is projected t h r o u g h the mean harvest date of October 18.42, and which is largely hypothetical except for the two actual pre-harvest points

Relative Yields of Reduced Stands of Sugar Beets Planted at a Normal Date and of

Replanted Sugar Beets

Thus, each row and plot of the 70 and 40 percent stands contained the correct number of plants, but the plants were not evenly spaced and the stand of each short section of each row could vary from a full stand due to the distance between plants. to a complete blank. The following diagrams are representative of the actual distances obtained on the reduced-stand plots. These treatments resulted in plant populations that varied, on average, from only about 30 plants per 100 feet of row in the case of 40 percent of the 16-inch spacings to about 140 plants per 100 feet of row when the 8-inch spacings remained as originally diluted.

The results in each of the 3 years of this test were very similar, and the 9 plot averages for each treatment in each year of the test are given in the following summary as the 3-year average of averages.