Tailoring nutrients to suit specific fields is the key to sugar beet yields rising annually for Norfolk grower Mark Fletcher of Manor Farm, Houghton St Giles.<\/p>\n
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The 300 acre tenancy and 300 acres of rented land plus various contract farming arrangements including drilling 750 acres of sugar beet locally is run jointly with a neighbour as part of a joint venture.<\/p>\n
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Mr Fletcher\u2019s aim is to expand the sugar beet operation having first started growing 75 acres on rented land.<\/p>\n
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\u201cSugar beet will become a specialist crop to grow, in the same way potatoes and vegetable crop have,\u201d he says. \u201cAttention to detail is the key to boosting profitability, especially tailoring nutrients on a field by field basis. We treat all rented fields in the same way as we treat our own. And as long as there is still a profit to be made we will continue to expand our operation.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The farm\u2019s variable soils range from blowing sand to chalk loam, which are historically low in phosphate and potash. Soil magnesium levels are also low.<\/p>\n
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\u201cMuch of the rented land has grown nutrient hungry roots such as carrots. Our sugar beet five year yield average is 85t\/ha but we plan for an annual yield increase of 1% through attention to detail and better nutrient planning. Early lifted sugar beet yielded about 80t\/ha when it would normally be nearer 70t\/ha, so we know that the land is capable of it.<\/p>\n
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He says that granular blends are much slower to breakdown, and if the ground is dry they just stay in the soil unutilised. By comparison OMEX suspension fertiliser is much more readily available with faster uptake, so he does not want to be leaving nutrients in the fields after having lifting the crop and vacated.<\/p>\n
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