WSP07012

• File Number: 8443.600
• Description: Narrows Unit - Studies
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 12/21/1981
• Author: James W. Read
• Title: Effect of Limited Irrigation on Yield of Sugar Beets
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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~FFECT OF LIMITED IRRIGATION ~
ON YIELD OF SUGAR BEETS

By James W. Read
Extension Director
Logan County

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In 1980, Colorado State University's Extension Service in Logan County
coone rated with Ag-Search, Inc.*, and the Grower-G.W. Joint Research
Committee** to conduct a sugar beet irrigation water stress test-demonstration
project on the Clyde Wilson farm, northeast of Holyoke, Colorado. The project
was designed to: 1) Evaluate sugar beet production under three levels of
irrigation water supplementation at three plant densi~ies.

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

Among other things, the project's objective was to:

1. Research the effect of restricted water supplementation on the yield
and quality of sugar produced from commercially-grown sugar beets.

2. To demonstrate through the evaluation of data the economic effect of
restricted water supplementation.

These two objectives form the basis for this report.

SITE

The Clyde Wilson farm was selected for the project. The field was in the
NW~ 33-8N-44W, two miles northeast of the town of Holyoke, Colorado. The
site was flood irrigated and had a controlled and measurable water source.
The soil types were a combination of Rago, Kuma and Platner loams, similar
to the soil s found throughout the area.

SITE HISTORY

The field had been in corn in 1979, beans in 1978 and sugar beets in 1977.
The field preparation, fel'tilization and cultural practices were compatible
with the recommendations of the Great Western Sugar Company and Colorado
State University's Extension Service. The field'was planted the first
week of April using a five-inch seed spacing and Gre,at Western's D2 seed.
The stands were thinned to test specifications on June 13-14 and weeded
July 2-3.

TEST-DEMONSTRATION DESIGN

The project was establ ished using a random block design for both, irrigation
water supplementation and production'stand.

To reduce the farmer's potential crop loss, the dryland area of the field was
restricted to the north margin of the test field where the water supplementation
would have been most difficult. A total of 18 rows was assigned to the
dryland treatment.

*A non-profit'applied research corporation.
**Provi ded grant money for the test-demonstration.