Transplanting as a means to enhance crop security of fodder beet

Abstract

Fodder beet has become a popular winter feed for all stock classes in New Zealand. However, poor crop establishment frequently leads to either significant loss in yield, through below-target plant populations, weed competition, or crop failure. This study demonstrates that establishing the crop from transplants, common in the vegetable industry, is one way to achieve a uniform plant population and reduce weed competition through early establishment of canopy cover. The most significant effect of transplant establishment is that the target plant population is readily achieved.

Shorter season options through transplanted fodder beet

“…Establishment to canopy cover of the transplanted crop was again earlier than precision-drilled as reported previously (Khaembah and Nelson 2016). This gives very clear evidence for early season canopy cover advantage (Figure 1), reducing weed competition so that fewer herbicide applications were required (Table 1) and an early season light interception advantage ( Figure 2).…”

“…We have previously reported on preliminary trials comparing fodder beet established by precision drilling or transplanting (Khaembah and Nelson 2016). In a similar small plot trial we focus here on the variation in crop establishment and growth between precision-drill and transplant methods.…”