Beet crops across the country should now have herbicide applications complete and as the season goes on nutrition and disease comes into focus.
Weed control was successful, following a careful programme throughout the dry weather. Residual activity will have been reduced by the dry soil conditions, so a degree of late weed germination is to be expected.
John intends to apply Uplift, Grow Plan B+ and Peloton between July 10 and 15. At this time he will also apply a fungicide, Escolta.
Grow Plan B+ at 3L/ha should fulfill the crop’s boron requirements, while Peloton adds phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and zinc to the mix.
Uplift will maximise the efficiency of nitrogen use and hence growth.
- Uplift – 5L/ha;
- Grow Plan B+ – 3L/ha;
- Peloton – 5L/ha;
- Escolta – 0.35L/ha.
He will return with a second application of Escolta three to four weeks after the first application. Applying two applications of Escolta has been consistently shown to deliver greater financial benefit than a single application.
One application of Escolta at 0.35L/ha can increase yield by 6.7t/ha, while a second application can add a further 4.8t/ha to the final yield of the crop.