Plant Soil Environ., 2016, 62(1):30-35 | DOI: 10.17221/677/2015-PSE

Effect of zinc band application on sugar beet yield, quality and nutrient uptakeOriginal Paper

P. Barłóg, A. Nowacka, R. Błaszyk

Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Environmental Biogeochemistry, University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland

The yield-forming effect of sugar beet fertilization with nitrogen (N) depends on many factors, including the components controlling N metabolism such as zinc (Zn). Two field experiments on soil with an average content of available Zn were conducted to verify the hypothesis. The component was deep band-applied in the form of ZnO suspension together with urea ammonium nitrate, UAN (72 kg/ha). The rates of Zn were as follows: 0; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5 and 2.0 kg/ha. The beet yield (BY) increased in accordance with the Zn rate. The significant BY increase compared to the control was recorded at a level of 1.5 and 2.0 Zn kg/ha, amounting to 14.5% and 21.8%, respectively. The best quality of taproots reflected in biological sugar content was observed at a level of 0.5 kg/ha. In the result, already the rate of 0.5 kg/ha significantly increased sugar yield compared to the control. The effect of Zn application on the nutrient content and uptake depended on the vegetation season, investigated part of the plant and the element. The examined factor significantly affected Zn content in leaves and N in the taproots. Only a total Zn uptake, independently of the seasonal factor, considerably depended on the fertilization applied.

Keywords: Beta vulgaris; leaves yield; micronutrient; subsurface banding; zinc oxide

Published: January 31, 2016  Show citation