Successful fodder beet cropping requires the use of Good Agronomic Practices for growing and utilising the crop, as well as good post-grazing management. Together, these will reduce the environmental impacts of fodder beet.
Key messages
Soil test to 15 cm prior to cultivation to refine N inputs.
- If anaerobically mineralisable nitrogen (AMN) is greater than 80 μg/g then only 50 kg N/ha is required.
- If AMN <80 μg/g, then apply 100 kg N/ha.
There is no yield response above 100 kg/ha of total N applied in fertiliser.
Timing of N application is important – 50% at sowing and 50% before canopy closure.
- Late N (after canopy closure) will grow more leaf but not yield. It will not raise protein sufficiently for animal maintenance, nor is it economic.
- Late N does not protect canopy from disease but does increase the leaf to bulb ratio.
- If QT K less than 3 apply 100 kg K/ha.
- If QT K 3–5 apply 50 kg K/ha.
- Apply 1.5 kg B/ha when soil test for B is less than 1 ppm
Complete a soil test to confirm soil K levels. There is no specific yield response to K fertiliser if Quick Test K (QT K) level is >5.
Boron rate and timing of application has no effect on yield or incidence of B deficiency symptoms.
Maintain a healthy canopy through monitoring and control of foliar diseases to maximise yield. Prevent carry-over of disease by not sowing successive crops of fodder beet in the same paddock.
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