Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1922-07-01
hrigate Beets Early
BY George Stewart, Professor of
Agronomy, Utah Agricultural
College

Beets ought not to be allowed to
suffer for water. Most of the beet
troubles that caused so much damage
last year resulted either directly or
indirectly from lack of soil moisture
about this time of year. The diseases
such as Seeding sickness and damp
ing-off which reduced the stand SO
much with the blights and rots that
wrought such havoc later in the sea-
son were caused by fungi. Unless or
ganlsms are present diseases cannot
result. Nevertheless, lack of mois-
ture retards growth and weakens the
beets, thereby making them highly
susceptible to disease.
Studies by the Utah Experiment
Station showed that In field after field
during last season the diseases took
hold only where the beets had been
previously weakened by scarcity OF
moisture. Loose seedbeds permit high
evaporation and are therefore unfay-
orable. In this respect as we'll us
many others fall blowing is advan-
tageous. Alfalfa sod or grass sod
have to be worked thoroughly or too
rapid evaporation takes place.
Anything that retains moisture Is
favorable. Intertillage prevents loss
from the deeper soil but early in the
season beet roots are too short to de-
rice much advantage from this treat
ment. Once the top soil becomes dry,
about the only thing that can be done
is to irrigate. If heavy losses are to
be avoided, water must be applied at
once. Unfortunately there is cur
rent idea among beet growers that IL
water be withheld for a time the
beet develops deeper roots. There is
no evidence whatever to support this
idea. Besides, the beets are much
weakened and succurb to the first
unfavorable condition that develops.
whether hot wind, blowing sand, in
sect, or disease.
The first irrigation should be ap-
piled soon enough to tide over the per-
iod between the drying of the soil
surface and the time when water Is
ordinarily applied. Irrigation on soils
that are dry on top can scarcely como
too early. The application need not
be heavy-just enough to connect With
the moisture in the deeper soil.
Some growers feel that it is suffi-
cient to irrigate only alternate fur
rows. This may be satisfactory in
soils that soak easily but in clays that
resist the taking in of water, every
row must be irrigated On slopes
steep enough for water tc run rapidly
soaking must be allowed. 1t is usual
ly wise to use small streams in each
furrow in order to avoid washing.
Shallow burrows permit more rapid
wetting of the surface where the
beets are. Just enough depth to in
sure the burrows carrying the wafer
without flooding Is best.
Long distance between head-ditches
Is to be avoided as this wastes wa
ter, as we'll as saturating the upper
end OF the field before the lower end
is sufficiently wet to help the beets.
Rapid and uniform distribution Of
water Is much encouraged by short
runs, from well-preparkd head-ditches.
The Utah Experiment Station there
fore, urges farmers not to delay tho
first irrigation Of beets. Results at
Logan point Enthusiastically to the de-
Sirability of early irrigation and the
use of short runs. Both time and
beets may thus be saved.