FACTORS AFFECTING THE GERMINATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MONOGERM SUGAR BEET
2.5.2 Autumn sowing
Wood & Scott (1975) showed that October and September sowing gave full leaf cover by mid-June, thus making more efficient use of radiation, up to 40% of the available between April and June. Thereafter bolting occurred and final sugar yields were never better than Spring sown crops, even if hand rogued. Ethephon applied at 10 g/1 partly controlled bolting but killed 55% of the plants. At a lower dose (2 g/1) it was ineffective.
It was concluded that Autumn sowing was unsuitable for the U.K. unless extremely bolting resistant varieties could be developed. This is unlikely as flowers are needed for breeding.
Autumn sowing is also inadvisable as virus yellows and downy mildew would be carried over more easily. Autumn sowing is practised in warmer climates, viz. Italy and Japan where low temperature induced bolting is not a problem.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE GERMINATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MONOGERM SUGAR BEET
[Introduction & Contents] [Chapter One] [Chapter Two] [Chapter Three] [Chapter Four] [Chapter Five] [Chapter Six] [Chapter Seven]
