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Sugarbeet
Get PDFSugar beet is an industrial crop, in that it is neither the seed nor the foliage that is the plant constituent of interest – not even the root itself, but rather sucrose refined from the root. For this reason yield is a complex trait, when looking at the amount of refined white sugar produced per area. Yield is calculated by the root weight times the percentage of that weight that is sucrose (usually expressed as percent of fresh weight), but also by the amount of the sucrose that can be extracted from the beet juice during processing (often expressed as juice purity or percent loss to molasses). All three of these components are variable in a population and can be improved through plant breeding. Percent sucrose is positively correlated to the amount of solar radiation captured and resulting photosynthesis once the leaf canopy reaches full coverage. The cations that interfere with the extraction of sucrose are related in a large extent to the soil in which the sugar beet is grown; however, the small amino-nitrogen compounds (e.g., betaine) can be lowered by proper nitrogen fertilization. Therefore higher yield can be achieved with a greater percent extractable sucrose (called Z-type sugar beet for ‘Zucker’ – ‘sugar’ in German) or an increase in tonnage (called E-type sugar beet for ‘Ernte’ – ‘harvest’ in German). Over the last one hundred years of sugar beet production we have seen an increase in both traits – achieved through genetic improvement and better crop management
Risk characterization of spent foundry sands in soil-related applications
Get PDFSpent molding sand is generated at about 2000 foundries in the U.S. when the sand can no longer be reclaimed within the foundry. Interest in beneficial use, rather than disposal of spent foundry sand (SFS), grew in recent years as the cost of landfilling increased and the potential benefit of using SFS in agriculture and horticulture became increasingly apparent. Thus, USDA-ARS researchers and the U.S. EPA's Office of Solid Waste, and researchers at The Ohio State University cooperated to conduct a risk assessment for beneficial use of SFS, and to develop guidance for such use. The available literature on SFS was reviewed and a program of sampling and comprehensive analysis of SFS was undertaken. The sample sets included foundries which cast iron, steel, or aluminum, and generated SFSs which contained low levels of potentially toxic trace elements and organic compounds. Data from these SFSs were evaluated using a pathway risk assessment approach, and it was concluded that most could be beneficially used due to high levels of copper and zinc commonly found in those sands. While most foundries use silica sand, it was also suggested that olivine sands not be beneficially used in soil-related applications, as they contain elevated levels of nickel which may present a phytotoxicity risk in acidic soils. Overall, however, the trace element concentrations in spent sands from iron, steel, and aluminum foundries were not unlike those found in U.S. soils. This guidance document recommends that SFSs with trace elements concentrations below the 95th percentile concentration of background U.S. soils can be safely applied to land or used in manufactured soils. Furthermore, none of the measured organic compounds were present at levels which would comprise excessive risk to humans or environmental receptors. The compounds present were largely biodegradable and mixing SFS in soils would promote natural biodegradation of these compounds
Soil–Plant Nutrient Interactions on Manure-Enriched Calcareous Soils
Get PDFGrowers working with manured soils o� en rely on soil test information when developing nutrient management for their crop,
especially when manure application information is unavailable. Nutrient-enriched soils, like manured soils, can trigger nutrient
de� ciencies and toxicities due to plant–soil nutrient interactions. � e goal of the study was to determine correlations between
soil test and plant tissue nutrient concentrations for irrigated corn silage crops (Zea mays L. subsp. mays) with varying nutrient
concentrations unique to dairy manure-enriched calcareous soils. Whole plant and soil samples were collected from 39 cooperator
corn silage � elds at harvest over a 2-yr period throughout the Snake River Plain region of southern Idaho. Soils were sampled to
a depth of 30.5 cm and analyzed for plant available forms of P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, and B; whole plant tops were analyzed for total N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu. Signi� cant positive correlations were detected between soil test K and tissue K (Spearman’s rho correlation coe� cient = 0.63), soil test K and tissue N (rho = 0.59), and soil test B and tissue N (rho = 0.53). A significant negative correlation was detected between soil test Fe and tissue Mn (rho = –0.59). Controlled studies are needed to corroborate the relationships observed in this survey study
Ft. Collins sugar beet germplasm evaluated for rhizomania and storage rot resistance in Idaho, 2013
Get PDFRhizomania caused by the Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) is a worldwide problem that can lead to loss of tonnage and lower percent sucrose in the field. BNYVV can also reduce the storability of roots. To identify germplasm with resistance to these problems, 50 sugar beet germplasm lines developed by the USDA-ARS Ft. Collins sugar beet program and four check cultivars were screened in a field experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design with six replications. During the growing season, plants were evaluated for foliar rhizomania symptoms. At harvest on 7 October 2013, roots were evaluated for rhizomania symptoms and then placed into an indoor commercial sugar beet storage building in Paul, ID. Foliar symptoms ranged from 0% for resistant entries and checks to 98% for the susceptible entries, indicating good separation of germplasm for BNYVV resistance should have been possible in the field study. BNYVV root ratings ranged from a low of 16 for a resistant entry to a high of 33 for one of the susceptible entries at harvest. Fungal growth on the root surface in storage ranged from a low of 1% for an entry with good storability to a high of 70% for the BNYVV susceptible check. Entries 28, 30, and 33 performed well for all variables. Incorporating better resistance to BNYVV and good storability into commercial sugar beet cultivars should allow for increased yields in the field and improved recovery of sucrose from roots in storage
Hardwood biochar influences calcareous soil physicochemical and microbiological status
Get PDFThe effects of biochar application to calcareous soils are not well documented. In a laboratory incubation study, a hardwood-based, fast pyrolysis biochar was applied (0, 1, 2, and 10% by weight) to a calcareous soil. Changes in soil chemistry, water content, microbial respiration, and microbial community structure were monitored over a 12-month period. Increasing biochar application rate increased the water holding capacity of the soil-biochar blend, a trait that could be beneficial under water limited situations. Biochar application also caused an increase in plant-available iron and manganese, soil carbon content, soil respiration rates, bacterial populations, and a decrease in soil nitrate-nitrogen concentration. Biochar rates of 2 and 10% altered the relative proportions of bacterial and fungal fatty acids, and shifted the microbial community towards greater relative amounts of bacteria and less fungi. The ratio of fatty acid 19:0 cy to its precursor, 18:1'7c, was higher in 10% biochar rate soil than all other soils, potentially indicating an environmental stress response. The 10% application rate of this particular biochar was extreme, causing the greatest change in microbial community structure, a physiological response to stress in Gram-negative bacteria, and a drastic reduction in soil nitate-nitrogen (85-97% reduction compared to the control), all of which were sustained over time
Sugarbeet
Get PDFSugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris) is an industrial crop grown commercially as a hybrid, with sucrose refined from the root as the plant constituent of interest. Yield of refined white sugar produced per unit area is a complex trait. Sugar yield is calculated by the root weight times the proportion of root that is sucrose, minus the amount of sucrose lost during processing, often expressed as percent loss to molasses or juice purity. Yields have risen in the last 100 yr from about 10% sucrose and 22.4 Mg ha−1 (10 t ac−1) to 18% sucrose and more than 65 Mg ha−1 (29.3 t ac−1). There also has been a shift in acreage from the western United States (especially California and Colorado) to the northern Midwest (Red River Valley). Although not all of this improvement is attributable to genetic improvement in the crop, a strong collaborative effort between commercial breeders and public breeders (USDA-ARS) has increased yield potential, while improving resistance to many diseases, leading to increases in yield. This continuing collaboration between private and public breeders will be necessary to meet the challenges of climate change and the utilization of beet as a sustainable biofuel and chemical feedstock
Resistance to curly top of sugar beet in germplasm developed at USDA-ARS Ft. Collins, 2013
Get PDFSeventy-one sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) lines from the USDA-ARS Ft. Collins sugar beet program and three control lines were screened for resistance to Beet curly top virus (BCTV) in 2013. Commercial cultivars ‘Monohikari’ (susceptible), ‘HM PM90’ (resistant) and Betaseed line Beta G6040 (resistant) were included as controls. The curly top evaluation was conducted at the USDA-ARS North Farm in Kimberly, ID, and was grown using typical agronomic practices. The plots were two rows 10 ft long with 22-in row spacing and arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Plants were inoculated at the four- to six-leaf growth stage on June 27 with approximately six viruliferous beet leafhoppers per plant. The beet leafhoppers were redistributed twice a day (immediately after sunrise and just before sunset) for one week by dragging a tarp through the field to disrupt settled/feeding leafhoppers. The plots were rated for foliar symptom development on July16 using a scale of 0-9 (0 = healthy and 9 = dead), with the scale treated as a continuous variable. Data were analyzed using the general linear models procedure, and Fisher’s protected least significant difference (a = 0.05) was used for mean comparisons.
Development of curly top disease symptoms was uniform and no other disease problems were evident in the plot area. The disease pressure in the test was severe with good symptom development in the susceptible control. Beta G6040, HM P90, and Monohikari were rated at 4.2, 4.4, and 6.3, respectively. The field was confirmed to be predominantly infected with Beet curly top virus (BCTV) and Beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV), with minimal infection by Beet mild curly top virus (BMCTV), using species-specific PCR. Thirty-five entries tested were not significantly different from the resistant control (Beta G6040) based on visual symptoms but were significantly better than the susceptible control (Monohikari). Of those 35 entries, 15 were germplasm being evaluated for release based on a number of factors, including resistance to curly top. Decisions to release these germplasm to commercial plant breeders will be based on their total performance, including resistance to curly top. Among the 35 best performing entries were 20 selfed single plant families of the cross (07-FC1015-420/C833-5cms)/FC201. The top 3 of the resistant families based on severity scores will be grown from remnant seed, recombined, tested against other pathogens, and further developed for eventual release as enhanced germplasm to commercial breeders and other researchers
Comparison of drop size and velocity measurements by a laser precipitation meter and low-speed photography for an agricultural sprinkler
Get PDFKinetic energy of water droplets has a substantial effect on development of a soil surface seal and infiltration rate of bare soil. Methods for measuring sprinkler droplet size and velocity needed to calculate droplet kinetic energy have been developed and tested over the past 50 years, each with advantages, disadvantages, and limitations. Drop size and velocity of an impact sprinkler at three operating pressures and one nozzle size were measured using a laser precipitation meter and compared with published values obtained using a photographic method. Significant differences in cumulative volume drop size distributions derived from the two measurement methods were found, especially at the highest operating pressure. Significant differences in droplet velocities were found between measurement methods as well. Significant differences were attributed to differences in minimum drop sizes measured; 0.5mm for the photographic method versus 0.2 mm for the laser precipitation meter. The laser precipitation meter provided smaller cumulative volume drop size distributions compared to the photographic measurement method. The laser precipitation meter tended to provide greater drop velocities which were attributed to altitude differences at experimental sites. The difference in calculated droplet kinetic energy per unit drop volume based on drop and size velocity data from the laser precipitation meter and the photographic method ranged from +12.5 to -28%. The laser precipitation meter generally provided a lower estimate of sprinkler kinetic energy due to the measurement of a greater proportion of smaller drop sizes. Either method can be used to obtain drop size and velocity sprinkler drops needed to calculate sprinkler kinetic energy. The laser precipitation meter requires less skill and labor to measure drop size and velocity
Groundwater use on southern Idaho dairies
Get PDFDairy production has expanded in irrigated areas of the western and southwestern US, potentially competing for limited water supplies. Groundwater withdrawal was measured for two years on six dairy farms with 660 to 6400 milk cows in southern Idaho. Groundwater withdrawal was calculated on an equivalent cow basis to account for relative differences in the numbers of milk cows, dry cows, heifers and calves on each farm. Average groundwater withdrawal from each dairy varied from 110 to 250 L/d/eq. cow with an overall average of 190 L/d/eq. cow for the six farms. On an area basis, groundwater withdrawal varied from 180 to 880 mm/y on each farm with a mean of 530 mm/y. Estimated annual irrigation requirements in southern Idaho are 510 mm for spring barley, 590 for corn, and 920 for alfalfa. Wastewater that was available for irrigation was only measured on three farms and varied from 21 to 150 L/d/eq. cow, with the highest amounts from a freestall dairy. Assuming that wastewater replaced a portion of groundwater used for irrigation, the net groundwater used on these three dairies was 290 to 370 mm/y. Data from these six dairies indicated that groundwater withdrawal by dairy farms was similar or less than the amount of water required to meet evapotranspiration needs of irrigated crops in southern Idaho, especially if wastewater is used to offset irrigation and is not applied in addition to irrigation
Beet curly top resistance in USDA-ARS Plant Introductions, 2013
Get PDFCurly top caused by Curtovirus species is a widespread disease problem vectored by the beet leafhopper in semiarid sugar beet production areas. Host resistance is the primary defense against this problem but resistance in commercial cultivars is only low to intermediate. In order to identify novel sources of curly top resistance, thirty Plant Introduction (PI) Lines were screened in a disease nursery in 2013. The lines were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. A curly top epiphytotic was created by releasing approximately 6 viruliferous beet leafhoppers per plant at the four- to six-leaf growth stage on 27 Jun. Foliar symptoms were evaluated on 16 Jul using a scale of 0-9 (0 = healthy and 9 = dead) in a continuous manner. Curly top symptom development was uniform and no other disease problems were evident in the plot area. The disease pressure in the test was moderately severe with good symptom development in the susceptible check. Twelve of the PIs were not significantly different from the resistant control, HM PM90. Of these 12 PIs, three performed extremely well, one from Greece (PI546423) and two from Portugal (PI604524, PI604539). They will be retested and, if resistance is confirmed, they will be incorporated into the USDA-ARS germplasm improvement program as potentially novel sources of resistance to BSCTV and closely related Curtovirus species