Sugar beet has been used to produce sugar on an industrial scale for more than a hundred years. Since then, the techniques for growing sugar beet and refining it into sugar have become far more efficient and smart nutrition can make a big difference. The weight of the sugar beet roots and the percentage of sugar content determine the quality of the yield and our programme of smart liquid fertilisers is specially designed to help you achieve a higher quality crop.
The key to achieving a high sugar content is in helping the plants to produce a full leaf canopy as quickly as possible. If the plant is grown well and doesn’t flower, the sugar will begin to accumulate in the bulb very early in the growth cycle.
Smart nutrition for higher quality sugar beet
Nitrogen is the single most important nutrient for a good yield as it promotes growth at all stages of development. Although it’s largely beneficial, excessive nitrogen can reduce sugar content so it’s important to use the right amounts.
Potassium, sodium, magnesium and sulphur also help to achieve higher quality yields and, depending on soil conditions, phosphorus might also be needed.
We recommend the application of NHK and 1-4-All at stages throughout the growth cycle as a medium spray to get good foliar contact and absorption. Any excess run-off will be taken by the roots.