|
Coldwater, Michigan | Paul,
That much Urea broadcast ahead of beets in a good bit of the thumb is an issue on the lighter soils, sometimes on the heavier soils. Urea in contact with the seed can be very damaging. Seed placed starters "can" make it worse. Don't always, but can! I had several customers over the years in the thumb who used our starter on their beets. Never heard a word for years, then one year we had an issue with a farmer. The question you then have to ask is what was different. Some of our customers were using as much as 9 gallons per acre on the beet seed with no damage. The customer with the issue had only used 3 gallons on the beet seed. Soil types were not that different, so what was?
The customer with the issue had sprayed 28% and planted into it. The customers running 9 gallons on the seed were sidedressing 28% at planting, not planting into it. Total difference in the way the beets responded to the treatment. Of course realize 28% is a high percentage of Urea. The slow release Urea is a safer product for that early growth period than is regular Urea. But the high seed placed guys were taking the safety issue out of the picture by not letting the UREA (28%) come into contact with the beet seed.
Some springs the UREA causes enough damage to the corn seed that several years ago Purdue had a report on their website about the very issue. About how Urea Hydrolysis occurs when Urea comes in contact with moisture in the soil, and drives the soil Ph to extreme highs for a period of time. That extreme Ph is very caustic and hard on seed (Corn, beets, others), and seedlings, causing damage, or death to those seeds. After a period of time (maybe a week) the conversion of the nitrogen is over and the Ph then settles down, and the zone becomes safe for the seed.
Urea damage often is observed when you see missing plants in the beet row. Oftentimes, you will see somewhat uneven growth within the row.
This happens more in light soils, than in heavier soils. If the nitrogen is managed well then the chances of your seed placed starter causing issues is very slim. If you are planting into a Urea zone, be more careful than you might need to be otherwise.
Edited by Bill Moyer 3/15/2013 20:31
| |
|
Applying starter fert. in a T-band
