The effect of foliar fertilization with marine calcite in sugar beet

Abstract

The effect of marine calcite (containing calcium and silicon mainly) foliar fertilization on the sugar beet root yield and technological quality relative to the control (treatment 0) was investigated. Study was conducted in 2011-2012 in the southeastern region of Poland, in Sahryń (50°41'N, 23°46'E). The cultivar of sugar beet was Danuśka KWS. Two treatments of foliar fertilization: (1) treatment (in the stage of 4-6 sugar leaves - 262.0 g Ca/ha, 79.9 g Si/ha, and three weeks later - 524.0 g Ca/ha, 159.8 g Si/ha); and (2) treatment (in the stage of 4-6 sugar leaves - 524.0 gCa/ha, 159.8 g Si/ha, three weeks later - 524.0 g Ca/ha, 159.8 g Si/ha). Calcium and silicon foliar fertilization resulted in increases of: (1) the root yield (average for both treatments about 13.1%; (2) the leaf yield (about 21.0%); (3) the biological sugar yield (about 15.5%), and (4) technological yield of sugar (about 17.7%) compared with the control treatment. At the same time a positive effect on the roots technological quality was found. It was a significant reduction of alpha-amino-nitrogen content and tended to reduce the content of potassium and sodium.