Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1911-04-22
CLIMATE AND WATER
FOR SUGAR BEETS

destroyed by the application of too much
water, or when applied at the wrong
time during the growth of the plant
The three important periods during the
growth of the sugar beet which require
special attention regarding the irrigation
OF the same are as follows: "a The
terminating or plantlet period, which
includes the time from planting until
four leaves have been formed on the
plant. During this period the soil should
contain sufficient warmth and moisture
to germinate the seed, but never an ex-
cess. 81 The growth period during
which the form and size of the beet is
developed. During this period, of about
two months, the. crop receives consid-
cradle amount of water, care being taken
not to make a too liberal application.
The tendency is for the young sugar
beets to send their tap roots deep into
the soil for moisture. With an excess of
water III the surface soil the roots are
supplied with water without going very
deep, resulting i'll the development of
short, stubby, undesirable beets The
water should be shut off until the plants
are i'll absolute need of it A dropping
leaf, which is darker i'll color. is an in
dication that the plant needs moisture
90 The sugar storing period during
Which the sugar is elaborated from the
air. During this stage, which begins
about 100 days after planting, the sugar
beet requires little if any moisture. AS
the plants approach maturity they re-
qure plenty of light and dry, cool
weather, but they should receive no
water. Any renewed or second growth
during this period Injuries both the
quantity and the quality OF the sugar.
In most sections OF this State, in the
clay loan and loan soils, from two to
four irrigations are sufficient, The quail
ity OF the soil, the location of the field,
the slope OF the land the subsoil the
rainfall and temperature of the atmos-
phere, during the growing season, are
factors which will influence the time and
number of irrigations. When the soil
contains sufficient moisture to terminate
the crop the first application of water
should he withheld as long as possible,
so that the roots will penetrate the soil
to considerable depth for moisture.
After the first irrigation a damp soil is
required II the soil becomes too dry
the growth will cease and the root be-
comes soft and spongy, When this
stage is reached AVID water is applied
second growth sets in, usually resulting
i'll the production of beets with low
sugar content of poor quality, The ann
should be to keep the ground damp and
cultivate frequently to keep the moist
ure near the plants. During hot days
the evaporation from the leaves of ihe
beets is great and they may wilt This
is no sign that the plants require another
irrigation, for the soil may contain suf-
6cient moisture, but it could no: be sup
Piled hy the roots as fast as it was evap,
orlted from the leaves. 1t will genef-
ally be found that at night when the
evaporation has greatly decreased the
plants assume their normal condition.
If, however, when examined in early
morning, the plants appear wilted for
one or two days, the soil will be found
lacking in available moisture and an APP
t,1tgafip,t Af to
il no definite rule as to when 10 stop
irrigatiug, but it should cease when the
heets commence 10 turn yellow and be-
gin to ripen,
Land plowed in the spring frequently
requires an irrigation prior to sowing the
seed, This will he necessary when the
spring rains fail to provide sufficient
moisture to keep the beets growing for
four to six weeks. Heavy soils should
first be plowed and thoroughly narrowed
before being irrigated by the use OF a
furrowing sled or cultivator with har-
rowing shovels the burrows should be
made about four inches deep. Heavy
soils should he irrigated in the spring as
early as possible. Light soils may be
irrigated before blowing. The land
should he leveled as much as possible
with a harrow before the water is APP
piled. To prevent as much as possible
the loss of moisture the ground should
be narrowed the same day it is plowed.
The soil should receive thorough work
ing to prepare good seed bed and pre-
vent the weeds from getting start. If
the weeds are not loosened and choked
in their early growth considerable hard
work will be necessary i'll the cultivation
of the crop After the weeds have been
entirely destroyed the ground should be
well packed, to insure a strong germi-
nation of the seed A roller or roller
pulveriaer may be used to advantage for
/ this purpose. Great care must be taken
] 49, - ..,ort. tho oo;1 ,vbau tpn wet ac