Armand Bauer
Professor of Soils
Three varieties of sugarbeets were planted on May 14th in rows spaced 22 inches apart and after thinning, 10 inches within the row (about 28,500 plants per acre). Four fertilizer nitrogen (N) rates were applied broadcast after planting. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were broadcast uniformly across the site and plowed down.
The yield of beets as influence by the variety and the fertilizer nitrogen rate are shown in Table 1.
To date, analyses for sugar content, purity and other tests for quality have not been completed. Analyses of blades and petioles for various nutrient concentrations at several dates have not been completed.
In comparison to beets grown at Carrington, the beets at Oakes advanced in top growth much more rapidly. While the contribution of temperature differences cannot be assessed, there were soil temperature differences that may have been a factor in the difference in early growth.
Soil Temperatures at Carrington and Oakes are presented in Table 2.
1973 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports, Volume 1, pg. 14