The effectiveness of silicon and boron micro-fertilizers in increasing the productivity of sugar beets

Abstract

Goal. To increase the productivity of sugar beets, determine the optimal dose of silicon micro-fertilizer for foliar fertilizing with silicon and boron. Methods. Field — to determine the influence of silicon and boron micro-fertilizers on the yield of sugar beets, sugar content of root crops, and sugar yield. Results. The results of research on the effect of foliar fertilizing with silicon and boron on the yield of sugar beets, sugar content of root crops, and sugar yield are given. It was proven that the highest productivity of sugar beet was achieved at the combined application of silicon and boron micro-fertilizers in phases of 6–8 and 10–12 leaves. The most effective dose of silicon micro-fertilizer was established, and the influence of silicon and boron on the components of sugar beet productivity was revealed. Conclusions. During foliar feeding of sugar beets with silicon micro-fertilizer in the phases of 6–8 and 10–12 leaves with a total dose of 0.6–1.4 l/ha, the yield of root crops increased by 3.2–5.5 t/ha compared to the yield with the application of mineral fertilizer N90P60K90, sugar content — 0.1–0.2%, sugar yield — by 0.6–1.1 t/ha. The effectiveness of foliar fertilization increased with the combined application of silicon and boron. During the 2-time feeding of sugar beets with silicon and boron micro-fertilizers, the yield of root crops increased by 4.5–6.4 t/ha compared to the yield with the application of mineral fertilizers, sugar content — 0.2–0.3%, sugar yield — by 0.9–1.3 t/ha. The highest productivity of sugar beet was achieved with foliar application of silicon at a dose of 0.7 l/ha and boron at a dose of 1 kg/ha in phases of 6–8 and 10–12 leaves on the N90P60K90 background: root crop yield was 68.3 t/ha, sugar yield — 12.7 t/ha, which was 6.4 and 1.3 t/ha, respectively, higher than when mineral fertilizers were applied. At the maximum sugar collection of 12.7 t/ha, which was achieved with the application of N90P60K90 + 0.7 Si + B (6–8 leaves) + 0.7 Si + B (10–12 leaves), the share of silicon and boron micro-fertilizers in the increase in productivity was 28%, the share of influence of mineral fertilizers was 72%.