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Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Sugar Beet Influenced by Application of a Soil Conditioner¹

Low stability and physical degradation of the surface soil are problems affecting agricultural use of large areas in the arid and semiarid regions. Use of chemical soil conditioners to improve soil physical properties may result in soil fertility problems. This experiment was conducted to study the effects of Krilium Merloam, a copolymer of vinyl acetate and maleic acid (application rates of 0, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15% dry weight basis of soil), on growth and nutrient uptake of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and soil structure stabilization in greenhouse conditions. A local cultivar of sugar beet was grown in a Calcixerollic Xerochrept silty clay soil. Plant growth was measured by top and root dry weights. The total N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn in tops and roots were determined. Water stable aggregates of soil were also measured. Significant top growth reduction and most severe leaf chlorosis occurred at the application rate of 0.15%. Root dry weight was not decreased at any application rate. Nitrogen in the tops was reduced with Krilium Merloam application. The decrease of P in the tops at application rates higher than 0.10% was accompanied by an increase in mean weight diameter (MWD) of the soil aggregates. Among the micronutrients reduced Zn and Fe uptake in tops at an application rate of 0.15% possibly resulted in chlorosis of leaves.

Key Words: Krilium Merloam • Leaf chlorosis • Soil aggregates

² Associate professor, and instructor, Dep. of Irrig.; and professor, Dep. of Soil Sci., Shiraz Univ., Iran.

Received for publication March 19, 1979.