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Sugar beet

Materials used in this chapter were published in articles:
• Zlotnikov, A., Lebedev, A., Puhova, F., Sergeev, V. (2005) Albit on sugar beet. Protection and quarantine of plants Nr 5. p. 26-27.
• Zlotnikov, A., Lebedev, A., Alehin, B., Sergeev, V. (2005) Albit is a new complex high-effective formulation for sugar beet. Sugar beet. Nr 7. p. 36-38.
• Methodology of Albit application overviewed in: Bukin., Zlotnikov, A., Perov, A. (2005) Adapted technology of sugar beet cultivation in Republic Mordovia. Published by Mordovian State University, Saransk, 20 pages.

Sugar beet is one of the most economically important plant species in agriculture. One can note, that while the average profitability of agriculture in 2004 was 15 %, in case of sugar beet it was 81 %. In addition, sugar beet is one of the most Albit-sensitive cultures: yield increase due to Albit application is 65 centners/hectare averagely, whereas double cost of Albit treatment is just 180 roubles (7.2 USD). The minimal detected yield increase over control in conducted trials was 17 centners/hectare (in Tula oblast), the maximal one was 145 centners/hectare (Krasnodar kraj). In farms of Krasnodar kraj (Chapaev pedigree cattle farm, Kuban pedigree farm, etc.), the average yield increase due to Albit was stably 25-30% in 1999-2004. Also, Albit increases sugar content in roots averagely by 0,3–2,5 % and accelerates maturation.

Albit is officially registered in Russia as a fungicide against black leg, cercospora leaf spot and downy mildew of sugar beet. The average Biological effectiveness of Albit against these diseases is 40-70 %, the maximal one is 88 %.

Fungicidal activity of Albit against sugar beet diseases is detected for disease prevalence of 41-50 % and disease development of 7-38 %. It is necessary to note, that BE of Albit gets lower the higher prevalence is (above 30 %). In this case, application of Albit with halved doses of chemical fungicides (fungicidal seed treatment agents) is recommended.

In practice, Albit is used for relieving of herbicidal stress, protection from diseases, increase of yield, sugar content and drought resistance. Presowing seed treatment and two foliar sprayings at the stages of 4-6 leaves and closure of leaves in rows are recommended.

Application recommendations:

Presowing seed treatment with Albit

• protects plants from black leg;
• increases germination and provides growth stimulation in early stages of development;
• accelerates alternation of phenological stages;
• increases yield.

Application rate of Albit is 50 or 100 ml/tonne of seeds, in field conditions and at use of coating technology respectively. Cost of presowing treatment is 110-220 roubles (4.4-8.8 USD)/tonne of seeds.

BE of Albit seed treatment against black leg is approximately the same as that of chemical protectants (fungicides based on a.i. Tiram), but cost of Albit treatment is more than 8 times lower. After such treatment, the period of defense against black leg was 25 days from the moment of germination. At use of coating technology, Albit is compatible with chemical fungicides and insecticides; it relieves chemical protectant-mediated retardation of plant growth and germination. Combined use of chemical protectants and Albit in seed coating technology makes possible prolonged storage of Albit-treated seeds before sowing (All-Russia Institute of Plant Protection, 2005).

Despite of high efficiency of Albit presowing seed treatment, many farms have to use only Albit foliar spraying, because seeds they get from regional service stations are already treated (coated). Thus, Albit should be integrated into existing seed treatment technologies to use its high potential.

At present time, Albit foliar spraying is most economically significant method. Application of the foliar spraying is recommended at the stage of 2-3 pairs of leaves and closure of leaves in rows. Consumption of Albit is 40 ml/hectare (300-400 ml/hectare of working solution). Cost of single treatment is 88 roubles (3.5 USD)/hectare. In difference to cereals and sunflower, twice repeated treatment is obligatory for sugar beet. Both treatments are equally significant: the first one give plant growth stimulation, the second one provides high sugar content and faster maturation.

First foliar spraying provides prerequisites for future high yield and sugar content (by means of growth stimulation), increases drought resistance, immunizes plants against downy mildew, and relieves herbicidal stress.

Herbicidal stress can lead to growth retardation, withering, decrease of photosynthesis intensity; yield loss might be up to 50 %. Being mixed with herbicides for the first treatment, Albit abolishes these negative herbicidal effects and provides high yield increase.

In Mordovia republik of Russia, the following scheme of Albit application is recommended:

1-st treatment: Biceps-grant 1 L;
2-nd: Zellek-super 0.5 L + Biceps-grant 1 L + Albit 30-40 ml;
3-rd: Lontrel 300 0.4 L + Zellek-super 0.5 L + Biceps-grant 1 L + Albit 30-40 ml + N (7 kg of a.i. ammonium nitrate);
4-th: Albit 30-40 ml

(All present amounts are calculated for treatment of 1 hectare of field)

This technology provides planned sugar beet yield of 400-600 centners/hectare.

Albit might be also used separately, after 4-7 days after herbicidal treatment. Such treatment relieves effects of herbicide overdosage (especially at use of several strong herbicides), abolishes growth retardation and plant oppression.

Albit also grants increase of drought resistance by 10-60%; plant can easier survive hot weather and lack of water. For example, using of Albit in Krasnodar kraj in droughty 2003 helped to get the same yield, as in not-droughty 2002. Albit is the only formulation, officially recommended in Russia as a mean for increase of drought resistance of field crops.

The second foliar spraying promotes redistribution of nutrients from leaves to roots, increases sugar content and accelerates maturation. As was demonstrated in trials of All-Russia institute of Plant Protection, presowing seed treatment influences only on yield, but not on sugar content. To increase the sugar content, it is necessary to use Albit foliar spraying. The second foliar spraying also provides reliable immunization against cercospora leaf spot. Since Albit suppresses disease development through immunization, to control air infections it should be used before appearance of the first signs of disease. At the danger of epiphytoty the second Albit foliar spraying should be combined with halved doses of fungicides. High effectiveness of such approach was demonstrated in Chapaev pedigree cattle farm of Krasnodar kraj.

As was already mentioned above, Albit treatments of sugar beet accelerate its maturation. This acceleration makes possible gathering in a good harvest even on the very north of beet growing region: in Mordovia, Moscow and Nizhnij Novgorod oblasts.

Albit treatment expenses are very low. Full recommended complex of Albit treatment (presowing + 2 foliar sprayings) takes 80.2 ml of Albit/hectare averagely, that makes 176.5 roubles (7 USD)/hectare. One litre of Albit can be used for treatment of 12.5 hectares of sugar beet field approximately.

Being used for treatment of sugar beet, Albit demonstrates high economical effectiveness. In trials of Tula regional plant protection station, the net profit of Albit application made up 1094-1560 roubles(43.76-62.4 USD)/hectare; each rouble invested to treatment brought 11-13 roubles of profit. In trials of All-Russia Institute of Plant Protection, profitability of Albit treatment was 1010 %. Averagely treatment of sugar beet with Albit brings 1100-6200 roubles (44-248 USD) of net profit from one hectare. Depending on region, weather conditions and mode of treatment, each invested rouble btings 6-35 roubles of profit. Each litre of Albit (88-100 USD) provides yield increase of 81 tonne on average.

Due to high effectiveness of Albit for sugar beet cultivation, it is being used in many regions of Russia (Krasnodar kraj, Tambov, Voronezh, Lipetsk oblasts, Republic Moprdovia) mainly for treatment of sugar beet. Since 1999, Albit have been examined in tests of All-Russia Institute of Plant Protection, All-Russia Institute of Vegetable Selection and Seed Breeding, Tula regional plant protection station, in farms of Krasnodar kraj, Tambov, Oriol, Voronezh and Lipetsk oblasts. Tests were performed on varieties RMS-73, Ramonskaja odnosemjannaja-47, L’govskaja LMS-94, L’govskaja-52, Ramonskaja-MC46, Severo-Kavkazskaja odnosemjannaja, Adidzhe, Ramonskaja-07 and others. Over the time of several years, Albit have being used by OSC Pamjatj Kirova, which is the most profitable organization among all sugar beet cultivating farms of Russia.