ontario sugar beet growers - Atrium - University of Guelph

graphs indicated that too much water was applied especially in the month of September.
The high peaks or spikes in the graph indicated gravitational water loss taking along
valuable nutrients, turning the foliage yellow, reduction the photosynthetic ability of the
plant and lost opportunities to produce higher sugar contents. The graphs also showed
where the plants were under moisture stress with the graphs "flat lining". Each location
with its particular soil characteristics and the unique soil layering that occurs at the
various soil depths needs to be examined. At location A, the 60cm depth could be used as
an indicator or excess water being added and water quantities could have been regulated
to maximize ths particular characteristic at this farm. In time, growers will be able to
establish soil moisture limits or lines and imgate within set high and low limits. These
limits are reflective of the soil type and the stage of plant growth. As in other crops,
where excess water decrease solids, as it does in sugar beets by reducing the sugar
content, a practice called deficient imgation, limiting water at critical times will result in
much improved sugar yields. It is anticipated that the exact limitation of soil moisture can
be better manipulated using a soil moisture trending instrument such as a C-probe and
that in time a grower will learn or have developed a set of high and low limits as
observed on the C-probe graphs between which irrigation events can be timed to fit
between. The benefits will be to maximize both sugar beet yields and sugar content using
a delivery system that can be quickly incorporated into the management practices at the
f m level.
At Location B, the top portion of the soil was extremely hard and impervious to
both water and sugar beet roots due to the early spring rains. This required additional
imgation events to soften and oxygenate the soil. Considerable root growth was forced to
occur at the lower 60cm depths. At this depth there were little nutrients available
resulting in a relatively low sugar beet yield and sugar content. Water was able to readily
move deeply into the soil through the abundant soil cracks that were created for the early
rainfalls and subsequent drying during the season.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I wish to thank the two growers, Rich Sylvester and Gary Reif who allowed us to work
with them and begin to study the advantages of imgation in sugar beets.
The funding support was made available through the Sugarbeet Advancement and I wish
to acknowledge and thank them for their interest and trust in working with us to better
understand the significance of imgation in sugar beets in Michigan.
Fig. 15. Sugar beets
chlorotic in the pivot
irrigation plot at
Location A.