Arable crops

When looking at nutrient demands of sugar beet the two highest nutrients potassium (450 – 500 kg K2O/ha) and nitrogen (250 kg N/ha). The others, whilst not in such high demand, play very significant roles. Phosphate and magnesium are required in similar quantities but perform very different functions. Magnesium is the central element in the chlorophyll molecule, that gives the leaves their green colour. It is therefore vital for the efficient capture of light coming onto the leaf canopy that the crop has sufficient magnesium.

Phosphate also compliments magnesium as it is required as part of the chemical energy storage pathway. This stored energy is then used to fuel many of the plant processes as it goes through its development cycle. In sugar beet, one such process is the production of sugar (sucrose) in the leaves that is then transported to the roots for long-term storage.

The process of moving the sugar down from leaf to root is an ‘active’ process, itself requiring the chemical energy generated during photosynthesis. Another important part of this process of translocation of sugar down to the root, is the role of potassium. Foliar applications of a relatively low concentration of potassium solution have been associated with increasing the rate of loading of the sucrose from the leaves and into the plant phloem transport system.

Therefore, a perfect foliar product for sugar beet is YaraVita MagPhos K, containing magnesium, phosphate and potassium, enabling efficient sugar production and translocation to the root. Apply 5l/ha at the same timing as your fungicide (check tankmix.com for mixability), if the crop is under drought stress 3l/ha of YaraAmplix Optitrac can also be added for an increase in abiotic stress tolerance.