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Growth and yield of sugar beet in relation to potassium and sodium supply
Author(s) -
Farley Ralph F.,
Draycott A. Philip
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740260402
Subject(s) - sugar beet , potassium , sugar , loam , agronomy , chemistry , yield (engineering) , sodium , calcareous , horticulture , biology , soil water , botany , food science , ecology , materials science , organic chemistry , metallurgy
Potassium fertiliser increases yield of sugar beet on most soils in Britain and sodium fertiliser gives a larger increase, whilst decreasing response to potassium. Sugar beet given factorial dressings of these elements was sampled periodically to determine whether they increase yield by similar effects on growth. Three experiments were made at Broom' Barn on a calcareous loam in 1971–73 and the results suggest that the two elements affect growth similarly. Both increased leaf area early in the season, improved the root: top ratio and increased sugar percentage in fresh and dried roots, all factors contributing to increased sugar yield. Analysis of the roots during September to December showed that neither element affected their processing quality; although each element increased its own concentration in the root juice, it proportionately decreased the harmful α‐amino nitrogen concentration.