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Seedbed Design for Minimizing Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) Seedling Damage by Mild Radiation Freeze¹

Greenhouse and field tests were made to evaluate the frost protection afforded by various seedbed designs. Planting in pockets was the most effective in reducing radiative freeze damage to sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) seedlings in the two-leaf stage. Pockets were 7.5 cm in diameter by 5 cm deep, formed at 45° to the horizon in 45° south-facing slopes on sides of 20-cm-high soil ridges. During freeze periods, leaf temperatures of the plants in the pockets averaged 3.4 C and 2.2 C higher than leaf temperatures of plants in the conventional seedbed under greenhouse and field conditions, respectively. Temperature differences were not as great under field conditions because of low soil temperatures. The planting system could, however, add 2 weeks to the spring growing season for sugar beets in southern Idaho, provided soil temperatures are high enough for germination.

Key Words: leaf temperature • air temperature • frost protection

² Research Soil Scientists, Snake River Conservation Research Center, Kimberly, Idaho 83341.

Received for publication December 14, 1967.