East Lansing, Michigan
November 14, 2007
The percentage of genetically
modified crops grown in Michigan is on the rise, and sugar beets
are no exception. Michigan growers will begin planting Roundup
Ready sugar beets, which can be sprayed with a non-selective
herbicide without injury, in 2008.
Christy Sprague, crop and soil sciences professor at
Michigan State University
(MSU), is researching growing sugar beets in narrow rows as a
way to manage weeds and increase yield. Her findings will
provide growers of Roundup Ready sugar beets with
recommendations for timing of herbicide applications, effective
weed control and maximum yield.
Weed control in sugar beets is critical, Sprague pointed out. In
MSU trials, lack of weed control reduced sugar beet yields by 30
to 100 percent.
“The use of herbicide in combination with the Roundup Ready
crops will provide good control over weeds,” Sprague said. “We
want to come up with effective weed management options that all
sugar beet growers can use.”
Sprague’s research goal is to reduce the number of weeds that
grow in sugar beet fields by growing the beets in narrower rows,
which will make them more competitive with weeds. The narrower
rows will allow the leaves of sugar beets to be closer together,
preventing sunlight from reaching the ground and reducing weed
germination, Sprague explained.
Along with better weed management, Sprague’s research aims at
increasing yield by growing more sugar beets per acre while
maintaining crop quality. She will also study the effects on
sugar beet yield and quality from planting at various rates.
“We want to see if adding a few more plants can maximize yield
in the field,” Sprague said. “We also want to make sure that we
would be producing more sugar in the beets. Even if the beets
are heavy, their sugar content may still be low.”
Currently, most Michigan growers plant their sugar beets in
30-inch rows to allow space for cultivation between the rows
throughout the season. Roundup Ready sugar beets will need less
cultivation, so narrower row spacings may be possible. Sprague
is studying the differences between row widths of 30, 20 and 15
inches.
Growers will be able to learn more about Sprague’s research
findings and how they can implement the resulting
recommendations in the 2008 crop at Extension grower meetings
this winter. Sprague also plans to incorporate the information
into future MSU weed control guides.
In 2005, Michigan growers produced nearly $111.2 million worth
of sugar beets on 154,000 acres. Michigan is one of the top
sugar beet producing states in the United States, which is the
third largest sugar beet producing nation in the world, behind
Russia and France.
Weed control research studies in sugar beets began in 2002 with
Project GREEEN-funded research that reduced the number of
applications of herbicides by measuring the growing degree-days
to the timing of the applications. The research improved weed
control by using fewer applications, but the results were not
consistent from year to year.
“We decided the next step was to use the new technology
available and explore new options to help reduce weeds,” Sprague
said.
Founded in 1997, Project GREEEN (Generating Research and
Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs) is the
state’s plant agriculture initiative at Michigan State
University. It is a cooperative effort between plant-based
commodities and businesses together with the Michigan
Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU Extension and the Michigan
Department of Agriculture to advance Michigan’s economy through
its plant-based agriculture. Its mission is to develop research
and educational programs in response to industry needs, ensure
and improve food safety, and protect and preserve the quality of
the environment.
To learn more about Michigan’s plant agriculture initiative at
MSU, visit
www.greeen.msu.edu. |
|
