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Seedbed Design for Minimizing Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) Seedling Damage by Mild Radiation Freeze 1
Author(s) -
Mayland H. F.,
Cary J. W.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1968.00021962006000030020x
Subject(s) - seedbed , sowing , sugar beet , greenhouse , agronomy , sugar , frost (temperature) , seedling , germination , environmental science , horticulture , biology , physics , meteorology , biochemistry
Greenhouse and field tests were made to evaluate the frost protection afforded by various seedbed designs. Planting in pockets was the most effective in reducing radiative freeze damage to sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris ) seedlings in the two‐leaf stage. Pockets were 7.5 cm in diameter by 5 cm deep, formed at 45° to the horizon in 45° south‐facing slopes on sides of 20‐cm‐high soil ridges. During freeze periods, leaf temperatures of the plants in the pockets averaged 3.4 C and 2.2 C higher than leaf temperatures of plants in the conventional seedbed under greenhouse and field conditions, respectively. Temperature differences were not as great under field conditions because of low soil temperatures. The planting system could, however, add 2 weeks to the spring growing season for sugar beets in southern Idaho, provided soil temperatures are high enough for germination.