The most critical period for laying down a high yield level in sugar beet is the first few weeks after emergence. This stage is critical for root system development and keeping the vascular bundles healthy. At this time the cambial rings form. The number and size of these rings determine the level of the future yield. A number of unfavorable conditions, moisture and nutrient shortage and temperature and herbicide stress, slow the growth of cambial rings and cause a yield shortfall. Therefore it is advisable to correct nutrition with foliar application at the 4–5 leaf pair stage of Ecoline Phosphite (K) 1.5–2.0 l/ha or Gros Phosphito NP 1.5 l/ha + Ecoline Universal Growth (Chelates) 1.5 l/ha. With magnesium shortage at the leaf closure in the row stage, Ecoline Magnesium (Chelates) at 1.5–2.0 l/ha.
Late sugar beet crops that fall into unfavorable weather, even with sufficient nutrient supply, are recommended to be fed with microelements by foliar application. Young plants are especially sensitive to microelement deficiency. The need for microelements in foliar nutrition is: Mn 250–800 g/ha, B 250–400 g/ha, Zn 200–350 g/ha, Cu 60–80 g/ha, Mo 3–15 g/ha.
Sugar beet is a classic boron-loving crop. Boron shortage leads to death of growing points, vascular bundle disease that can progress to heart rot and hollow roots. From the 6th leaf stage to leaf closure between rows we recommend Ecoline Boron (Premium) from 1.0 l/ha to 1.5 l/ha with the addition of Ecoline Magnesium (Chelates) 1.5–2.0 l/ha.
If diagnostics are carried out and a need for other elements is established, and for the prevention of fungal and bacterial diseases and for raising drought and heat resistance and improving nitrogen uptake, other fertilizers can also be applied, in particular: Ecoline Manganese (Chelate) 0.5–1.0 l/ha , Ecoline Copper (Chelate) 1.0–1.5 l/ha, Ecoline Iron (Chelate) 1.0 l/ha.
At the final stage of growing sugar beet it is important to pay attention to the quality of the sugar raw material. Besides feeding plants with boron at 1.0 l/ha at the same time as the last fungicide treatment, good results in raising sugar content and reducing alpha-amino nitrogen are given by applying Ecoline Phosphite (K-Amino) at 1.5 l/ha.