Effect of salt (sodium chloride) on the growth, yield and composition of sugar beet
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Date
1962Author
Wynd, Alexander
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Abstract
Previous literature stated that sodium chloride
applications increased the yield of sugar per acre when
applied to the sugar beet crop, particularly where the
soil potassium level was low and where potassium was
not applied as fertilizer. Early literature considered
that the reason for this was that sodium was useful as a
replacement of part of the potassium in the soil, but
modern opinion considered that sodium and chlorine were
plant nutrients. Sodium had a general function which
could be undertaken by potassium and other alkaline earth
elements and a specific function which could be undertaken
by sodium alone.
Experimental work under review considered applications
of two and four out. sodim chloride compared with
no salt, to two sugar beet crops during two seasons along
with applications Of potassium chloride at identical
rates. Sodium chloride applications Increased the sodium
content of the soil and of sugar best roots but reduced
the pC level of the soil and also produced small increases
in root weight and sugar percentage; but the applications
did not affect the pH, available phosphorus and
potassium levels in the soil, potassium and noxious
nitrogen content of the sugar beet root nor top weight.
Sodium chloride applications did not affect the health of the sugar beet plant.