Sugar Beet Fertilization

Global sugar beet production spans diverse regions and a wide range of climatic and agroecological regions from rainfed to irrigated production which presents unique management challenges. Sound nutrient management now and into the future must be balanced between production efficiency and managing to have less impact on the environment. N management continues to improve with more precise N rates. Soil testing for N supplying capability plus residual N will need to be increased to enhance productivity and N use efficiency. Newer cultivation techniques, N placement and timing can also fine tune N rates. In irrigated areas, improvements in N management will be coupled with better water management and conversion of furrow irrigation to sprinklers will accelerate improvements. Enhanced efficiency fertilizer products hold promise but require additional research under a range of conditions to determine cost and production effectiveness. Management for secondary and micronutrients seems adequate at this time. Precision agricultural applications for expanded site specific management in sugar beet are just beginning. Work with maize and wheat point to the potential of creating different management zones in fields and by using remote or close sensing to determine N status for N applications. Similar research will be needed to continue efficient sugar beet production

Nitrogen fertility in semiarid dryland wheat production is challenging for beginning organic farmers

Organic farming systems use green and animal manures to supply nitrogen (N) to their fields for crop production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of green manure and composted cattle manure on the subsequent winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop in a semiarid environment. Dry pea (Pisum sativum L.) was seeded in early April and terminated at first flower in late June. Composted cattle manure was applied at 0, 11.2 or 22.5Mgha−1 just prior to pea termination. Winter wheat was planted in mid September following the green manure or tilled summer fallow. No positive wheat response to green manure or composted cattle manure was observed in any of the 3 years of the study. In 2 of the 3 years, wheat yields and grain test weight were reduced following green manure. Green manure reduced grain yields compared with summer fallow by 220 and 1190 kgha−1 in 2009 and 2010, respectively. This may partially be explained by 40 and 47mm less soil water at wheat planting following peas compared with tilled summer fallow in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Also, in 2008 and 2009, soil nitrate level averaged 45kgha−1 higher for black fallow compared with green manure fallow when no compost was added. Organic growers in the semiarid Central Great Plains will be challenged to supply N fertility to their winter wheat crop in a rapid and consistent manner as a result of the inherently variable precipitation. Growers may need to allow several years to pass before seeing the benefits of fertility practices in their winter wheat cropping systems

G77-361 Using Starter Fertilizers for Corn, Grain Sorghum, and Soybeans

Starter fertilizer may increase early growth of corn and grain sorghum. Grain yield increases from starter nutrients are most likely on low phosphorus soils and some sandy soils. Proper use of a starter fertilizer is an important management tool for crop producers striving for top yields. While the use of a starter fertilizer can be important for crop production on many soils, it is more important for corn production on irrigated sandy soils than on fine textured soils

Limited irrigation cropping systems for conserving water resources in the Pumpkin Creek Watershed

Presented at the 2008 Central Plains irrigation conference on February 19-20 in Greeley, Colorado.Includes bibliographical references

Agronomic Utilization of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate—Effect of PCC on Sugar Beet Root Aphid Control and Herbicide Dose Response of Kochia Grown on PCC Piles

Agricultural use of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), a byproduct of sugar clarification process, as a possible source of nutrients and pest and disease control in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris.) needs a careful examination of the risk and benefit assessment at various levels of management and production. A series of controlled environment studies were conducted in Scottsbluff, NE, to assess the 1) effect of PCC on root aphids in sugar beet, and 2) risk of the weed kochia spreading by applying PCC to agricultural land and its chemical control strategy, by conducting various dose-response studies. A replicated lab study was conducted twice to determine the effect of PCC on root aphid in sugar beet using three rates of PCC (9, 18, and 27 Mg ha−1) and a control. The results showed that root aphid populations in all PCC-amended treatments were significantly reduced when compared to the control (p \u3c 0.05). Two cycles of dose-response studies using the herbicides Roundup and Clarity at 6 concentrations revealed that kochia biotypes grown on PCC piles at three western sugar production locations were effectively controlled (LD50) with the current rate recommendations administered in this region for both herbicides. More field experiments are needed to confirm the results of these controlled environment studies

Cover Crop Effect on Subsequent Wheat Yield in the Central Great Plains

Crop production systems in the water-limited environment of the semiarid central Great Plains may not have potential to profitably use cover crops because of lowered subsequent wheat (Triticum asestivum L.) yields following the cover crop. Mixtures have reportedly shown less yield-reducing effects on subsequent crops than single-species plantings. This study was conducted to determine winter wheat yields following both mixtures and single-species plantings of spring-planted cover crops. The study was conducted at Akron, CO, and Sidney, NE, during the 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 wheat growing seasons under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. Precipitation storage efficiency before wheat planting, wheat water use, biomass, and yield were measured and water use efficiency and harvest index were calculated for wheat following four single-species cover crops (flax [Linum usitatissimum L.], oat [Avena sativa L.], pea [Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L. Poir], rapeseed [Brassica napus L.]), a 10-species mixture, and a fallow treatment with proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) residue. There was an average 10% reduction in wheat yield following a cover crop compared with following fallow, regardless of whether the cover crop was grown in a mixture or in a single-species planting. Yield reductions were greater under drier conditions. The slope of the wheat water use–yield relationship was not significantly different for wheat following the mixture (11.80 kg ha–1 mm–1) than for wheat following single-species plantings (12.32–13.57 kg ha–1 mm–1). The greater expense associated with a cover crop mixture compared with a single species is not justified

High-Yielding Corn Response to Applied Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sulfur in Nebraska

Nutrient management recommendations may change as yield levels and efficiency of crop production increase. Recommendations for P, K, and S were evaluated using results from 34 irrigated corn (Zea mays L.) trials conducted in diverse situations across Nebraska. The mean yield was 14.7 Mg ha-1 with adequate fertilizer applied. Th e median harvest index values were 0.52, 0.89, 0.15, and 0.56 for biomass, P, K, and S, respectively. Median grain yields were 372, 49, and 613 kg kg-1 of above-ground plant uptake of P, K, and S, respectively. The estimated critical Bray-1 P level for corn response to 20 kg P ha-1 was 20 mg kg-1 when the previous crop was corn compared with 10 mg kg-1 when corn followed soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Soil test K was generally high with only three site-years kg-1. Over all trials, application of 40 kg K ha-1 resulted in a 0.2 Mg ha-1 mean grain yield decrease. Application of 22 kg S ha-1 did not result in significant yield increase in any trial. Soil test results accounted for twice as much variation in nutrient uptake when soil organic matter (SOM) and pH were considered in addition to the soil test nutrient values. The results indicate a need to revise the current recommendation for P, to maintain the current K and S recommendations, and to use SOM and pH in addition to soil test nutrient values in estimating applied nutrient requirements for irrigated high yield corn production

Agronomic Potential of Using Precipitated Calcium Carbonate on Early Plant Growth and Soil Quality in the Intermountain West - Greenhouse Studies

Storage and management of large piles of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) from sugarbeet processing are a challenge in the western US. Potential uses of this product on surrounding agricultural lands in western NE, eastern WY and northeast CO requires an evaluation of chemical and agronomic impacts of PCC on soils and crop growth. A preliminary greenhouse study was conducted in Scottsbluff, NE using 10 soils from the 3 states. Soils were mixed with 11, 22, 33 and 44 Mg ha-1 rates of PCC to test the early plant growth of sugarbeet, corn, and dry bean in addition to determining soil chemical characteristics. Chemical analysis of PCC from the three processing factories indicates that PCC provides some nitrogen and phosphorus, in addition to some iron, depending on rate. Application of four rates of PCC to neutral to slightly alkali soils neither improved nor negatively impacted the soil chemical characteristics. Dry matter of the three crops after 7 weeks showed no significant effects of PCC. Future utilization of PCC in this region will require further research based on longterm investigations of possible effects of PCC on soil chemical characteristics and plant growth under field conditions

High-Yielding Corn Response to Applied Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sulfur in Nebraska

Nutrient management recommendations may change as yield levels and efficiency of crop production increase. Recommendations for P, K, and S were evaluated using results from 34 irrigated corn (Zea mays L.) trials conducted in diverse situations across Nebraska. The mean yield was 14.7 Mg ha-1 with adequate fertilizer applied. Th e median harvest index values were 0.52, 0.89, 0.15, and 0.56 for biomass, P, K, and S, respectively. Median grain yields were 372, 49, and 613 kg kg-1 of above-ground plant uptake of P, K, and S, respectively. The estimated critical Bray-1 P level for corn response to 20 kg P ha-1 was 20 mg kg-1 when the previous crop was corn compared with 10 mg kg-1 when corn followed soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Soil test K was generally high with only three site-years kg-1. Over all trials, application of 40 kg K ha-1 resulted in a 0.2 Mg ha-1 mean grain yield decrease. Application of 22 kg S ha-1 did not result in significant yield increase in any trial. Soil test results accounted for twice as much variation in nutrient uptake when soil organic matter (SOM) and pH were considered in addition to the soil test nutrient values. The results indicate a need to revise the current recommendation for P, to maintain the current K and S recommendations, and to use SOM and pH in addition to soil test nutrient values in estimating applied nutrient requirements for irrigated high yield corn production