Sowing
Variety Selection
- Study the variety test results from the research committee in your area. The variety results are available each year to compare the varieties approved for your sugarbeet growing.
- Determine if specialty varieties would help improve production on fields where disease such as Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Curly Top, Rhizomania, etc., could be a problem.
- When planting different varieties on your farm, manage the fields so that you can accurately compare varietal differences. Mixing seed varieties in drill cans will cause several problems ranging from improper planting to difficulty in removing tops at harvest time.
- Consult with you agriculturist to be sure that you plant varieties that are on the approved list for the current crop year.
Planter Checklist - Drill Maintenance
- Seed cutoff pawls that are worn can be the first items that need replacing.
- Wear on seed plate cell size can cause double cell fill.
- Depth bands must be matched to disc openers to insure proper seed depth. Discs with 1.5 inch exposure past the bands will plant 1.25 inches deep. Heavier drills and drills with insecticide and herbicide applicators plant deeper than lightweight drills
- Make sure row spacing is correct and the "guess rows" match planter row spacing.
- Complete maintenance of drill drive chains, sprockets and ejection tubes.
- Be extra careful to check drill when starting to plant after drill has been rained on.
- Holly Hybrids has a drill stand that is available for your use. Contact your agriculturist for additional information about locations and times.
- Physically check planted seeds in the field to determine how deep the drill is planting in the field!
Keys to Growing Optimum Sugarbeet Crop
To reach yield and quality goals, maximum use of the growing season must be obtained. This can only be accomplished by reaching maximum canopy cover as soon as possible after planting and maintaining a maximum growth environment until harvest.
Timely irrigation is the key to growing an optimum sugarbeet crop. Start your crop off right by irrigating for germination in the absence of sufficient rainfall. Timely irrigation can keep your young crop growing at the fastest possible rate allowing herbicides and insecticides to reach their full effectiveness. Also, opportune irrigation after cultivation and thinning allows optimum recovery and growth during the critical state of development.
Fertilizers become available to the growing sugarbeet plant when there is adequate moisture in the soil. Light and frequent irrigations are much more suitable for profitable sugarbeet growth than over irrigating. Sugarbeets should never be stressed by withholding irrigation water "to make them root down." Finally, fields should be scheduled for proper irrigation up to harvest so that desirable digging conditions, continuous growth and optimal quality can be ensured.
| Planting Rate in Acres/Unit* - (100,000 seeds) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inches | No. of Seeds | Number of Acres per Unit | ||
| Between Seed | per Acre 22"** | 22" | 24" | 30" |
8.0 |
35,640 |
2.80 |
3.04 |
3.83 |
7.5 |
38,016 |
2.63 |
2.86 |
3.07 |
7.0 |
40,731 |
2.45 |
2.67 |
3.36 |
6.5 |
43,865 |
2.28 |
2.48 |
3.12 |
6.0 |
47,520 |
2.10 |
2.29 |
2.88 |
5.5 |
51,840 |
1.93 |
2.10 |
2.64 |
5.0 |
57,024 |
1.75 |
1.90 |
2.40 |
4.5 |
63,360 |
1.58 |
1.71 |
2.16 |
4.0 |
71,280 |
1.40 |
1.52 |
1.92 |
3.5 |
81,463 |
1.23 |
1.33 |
1.68 |
3.0 |
95,040 |
1.05 |
1.14 |
1.44 |
| *All seed sizes have the same seed count (unit = 100,000 seeds) **For 24 inch row multiply seed count by .92 **For 30 inch row multiply seed count by .73 |
| Planting Rate for Pelleted Seed | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Inches | No. of Seeds | Approximate Pounds per Acre | |
| Between Seed | per Acre 22"* | Mini Pellets | Regular |
8.0 |
35,640 |
1.69 |
2.85 |
7.5 |
38,016 |
1.81 |
3.04 |
7.0 |
40,731 |
1.94 |
3.26 |
6.5 |
43,865 |
2.09 |
3.51 |
6.0 |
47,520 |
2.26 |
3.80 |
5.5 |
51,840 |
2.47 |
4.15 |
5.0 |
57,024 |
2.72 |
4.56 |
4.5 |
63,360 |
3.02 |
5.07 |
4.0 |
71,280 |
3.40 |
5.71 |
3.5 |
81,463 |
3.88 |
6.52 |
3.0 |
95,040 |
4.53 |
7.60 |
| *For 30 inch row multiply seed count by .73 |
Growers should carefully review their planter specifications for correct sowing of differing seed sizes. Adjustments need to be made to planters to insure proper spacing and reduced mechanical injury to the seed.
