1. Potential for Sensor Based Systems in Corn-Sugar Beet Rotations John A. Lamb Department of Soil, Water, and Climate University of Minnesota – St. Paul johnlamb@umn.edu

2. Southern Minnesota Sugar Beet Rotations Current –Sugar beet-soybean-corn 78% of acreage –Future may include Sugar beet-corn-soybean-corn.. Quality is job 1. N is the key! 2003 increased N management put $141 per acre in grower’s pockets. Growers think they need a lot of N fertilizer to grow 200 bushel corn!

3. Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative Area

4. Whole Rotation Soybean-Corn- Sugar beet Year 1 –Located plots and grew soybean. Year 2 –Apply N fertilizer at rates of 0, 120, and 200 pounds/acre to large plots. –Grew corn, harvest corn, and soil sampled for soil nitrate-N. Year 3 –Apply N fertilizer at 6 rates to large plots. –Grow sugar beet for yield and quality.

5. Whole Rotation Effects on Soil Nitrate-N (Soybean-Corn) N rate 2003OliviaMaynard pounds/acreSoil nitrate-N 0-4 ft. (lb/acre) 07450 12010178 200146102

6. Possible sensor uses Better N management for corn preceding sugar beet in the rotation. –Less residual soil nitrate-N Delineate management zones for deep soil sampling. –For corn and/or sugar beet production years.

7. Southern Minnesota Sugar Beet Rotations Future –Sugar beet-corn-soybean-corn Soybean rust Soybean cyst nematode Soybean iron chlorosis Sugar beet root diseases

8. Whole Rotation: Sugar beet-corn Year 1 –Grow sugar beet with five N rates in large plots. –Measure beet yield, beet quality, and soil nitrate-N Year 2 –Grow corn –Apply four N rates with in the year 1 large plots –Measure corn yield and soil nitrate-N.

9. Whole Rotation: Sugar beet-corn This a project in progress. Two locations established spring 2002, 2003, and 2004. Example of one of 2002 locations.

10. Whole Rotation Effects Beet-Corn Maynard 2002 N rate 2002 Fertilizer plus Soil N 2002 Rec suc Soil nitrate-N Beet top N ---------------------- lb/acre ---------------------- 04992764379 5099989840104 100149995942144 150199887362154 200249982745184

11. Whole Rotation Effects on Soil Nitrate-N Beet-Corn Maynard

12. Possible sensor uses Better N management for corn following sugar beet in the rotation. –Sugar beet top N credit. –N rec prediction as soil nitrate test is useless.

13. I’m out of steam!

14. Whole Rotation Effects Beet-Corn Olivia 2002 N rate 2002 Fertilizer plus Soil N 2002 Rec suc Soil nitrate-N Beet top N ----------------- lb/acre ---------------- 07976934256 4011992263563 8015987893972 12019988934190 16023983324296

15. Grain Yield: Corn following Sugar beet Olivia, MN 2003

16. Chlorophyll: Corn following Sugar beet Olivia, MN 2003

17. Whole Rotation Effects on Soil Nitrate-N Beet-Corn Olivia