AEIS 660

File 18.47
August 1999

Search Tip
Control "F"
Type in Key Word(s)
Hit Enter

Seedbed Tillage and Planter Effects on Sugarbeet
Emergence and Yield–Huron Co. 1999

Sugar beet plots were established at the Shaw site in Huron County to evaluate the effect of seedbed tillage and planter selection on plant emergence and stand, uniformity of size, sugar content and yield. All plots were fall moldboard plowed. Three seedbed tillage treatments were used: 1) fall Mulch-Master, stale seedbed, 2) fall Mulch-Master, shallow spring Mulch-Master, and 3) shallow spring Mulch-Master. Beets were planted with a John Deere 7300 general purpose vacuum planter and an Accord plate-type beet planter. Stand establishment goals included early season emergence and growth, a high plant population and an even spacing between plants in the row. Seedbed tillage was within a few hours of planting. Shallow tillage with the Mulch-Master was at a depth of 1-2 inches to break the surface crust and level the surface yet avoid excessive drying of the seedbed. Seedbed tillage of the land that was fall plowed but not leveled with Mulch-Master was at a depth of 3-4 inches to level the seedbed.

Soil Moisture

Increasing tillage intensity tends to create a drier seed zone throughout the early growing season. This lack of soil moisture can contribute to delayed emergence in spring tilled plots when soil moisture is short. Under this years soil moisture conditions, there was no practical difference in rate of emergence or stand due to tillage or planter used. With each tillage and planting system few additional beets emerged after the 20-day stand count.

       

 

Table 1. Planting and crop care information.

 

 

Table 2. Sugarbeet plants per 100 ft of row for three tillage systems with two planters. All plots were fall moldboard plowed.