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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #321706
Title: Fall and spring tillage effects on sugarbeet production

Author
item Tarkalson, David
item Bjorneberg, David - Dave
item MOORE, AMBER - University Of Idaho

Submitted to: Journal of Sugar Beet Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2016
Publication Date: 5/19/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/63283
Citation: Tarkalson, D.D., Bjorneberg, D.L., Moore, A. 2016. Fall and spring tillage effects on sugarbeet production. Journal of Sugar Beet Research. 52(3&4):30-38.

Interpretive Summary: The ability to vary primary tillage timing between fall and spring for sugarbeet production could benefit producers by providing flexibility for when field work occurs and may allow earlier planting in the spring. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of strip and conventional tillage conducted in the spring and fall under various N supply levels on sugarbeet production in the northwest U.S. The treatments included tillage time (fall and spring), tillage system (moldboard plow, chisel plow and strip tillage), and N supply (5 levels including a control). The study was conducted in Kimberly, ID in 2008 and 2009 on a Portneuf silt loam. Within each year and tillage type, estimated recoverable sucrose and root yields were not different between fall and spring tillage timings. These data suggest that sugarbeet growers in the northwest U.S. have flexibility in timing their tillage practices across various tillage systems.

Technical Abstract: The ability to vary primary tillage timing between fall and spring for sugarbeet production could benefit producers by providing flexibility for when field work occurs and may allow earlier planting in the spring. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of strip and conventional tillage conducted in the spring and fall under various N supply levels on sugarbeet production in the northwest U.S. The treatments included tillage time (fall and spring), tillage system (moldboard plow, chisel plow and strip tillage), and N supply (5 levels including a control). The study was conducted in Kimberly, ID in 2008 and 2009 on a Portneuf silt loam. Within each year and tillage type, estimated recoverable sucrose and root yields were not different between fall and spring tillage timings. These data suggest that sugarbeet growers in the northwest U.S. have flexibility in timing their tillage practices across various tillage systems.