244 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



FERTILIZING THE BEET CROP 



Under average Michigan soil conditions, sugar beets respond best to 

 substantial applications of fertilizers high in phosphoric acid and potash. 

 Growers report good results from the use of 300 to 500 pounds per acre of 

 a complete fertilizer such as 2-12-2 or 2-10-4 or a like amount of acid 

 phosphate. When this amount of fertilizer is used, it should be applied 

 broadcast when fitting the seed bed, or harrowed in just before planting. 

 When smaller applications, 100 to 125 pounds per acre are made, the 

 fertilizer should be applied in the row usually with a special fertilizer 

 attachment on the seeder. The common practice, which is a poor one, 

 is to apply too little fertilizer of a low analysis for maximum returns 

 per acre. 



iSugar Tjeets respond' profitably to the proper use of fertilizer. 

 600 lbs. of 2-10-4 on right corner. 

 600 lbs. of 2-10-4 and manure in back ground. 

 Nothing on lower left corner. 



Barnyard manure is the most common fertilizer used on the farm 

 today. It is very valuable in the production of a good crop. Barn- 

 yard manure, which has been applied the spring or fall the year previous 

 to planting beets, gives the best results. Spring application of fresh 

 manure immediately before planting is not recommended for several 

 reasons: (1) The beet plant is not able to make the best use of this 

 manure as it is not immediately available. (2) Heavy application of 

 fresh manure may cause short, prongy, low yielding beets. (3) The 

 spring top dressing of fresh manure, in many cases, is also a top dress- 

 ing of weed seeds. This greatly increases the amount of labor necessary 

 to care for the crop. Well rotted manure may profitably be applied in 

 the spring. 



Manure furnishes innumerable very valuable bacteria to the soil and 



