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0-169

This it to certify that the

thesis entitled
“The Use of Different Media and

Containers as a Method for Plant-

ing Sugar Beet Seed."
presented by

Merrill J. Buschlen

has heen'icoepted towards fulfillment
of the requirements for

_l13.___degree mm”

 

Major professor

Date M1951—

 

 

THE USE OF DIFFERENT MEDIA AND
CONTAINERS AS A METHOD OF PLANTING
SUGAR BEET SEED.

by
MERRILL J. BUSCELEN

A THESIS
Submitted to the Graduate School of Michigan State
College of Agriculture and Applied Science
in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE

Department of Farm Crops

1951

 

Twigs

 

INTRODUCTION

Sugar beet farmers and processors have been
adversely affected by a decreasing supply of labor for
hand-blocking, thinning and hoeing the crop. No satis-
factory method for space planting of sugar beets has as
yet been devised. Such space planting would alleviate
much of the need for hand labor.

Since the beginning of the industry in Michigan, the
need for meeting this problem by machine methods has been
recognized. Several attempts at a solution have been made
but none to date have proven wholly adequate. If sugar
beet seed could be individually packaged in uniform contain-
ers prior to planting time, the possibility of space plant-
ing by machines might be realized. Further value of such
a method might be evidenced in early control of seedling
diseases, if the germinating medium were sterile at plant-
ing time.

As a consequence, an experiment was begun to determine,
first, if sugar beet seed could be packaged in a container
filled with a dry germinating medium and, secondly, planted
at regular intervals properly spaced in the row, allowed to
grow in place to maturity and thus eliminate the necessity
of blocking and thinning. Particularly the experiment
dealt with:

l. The characteristics of the proper type

255906

-2-

of a container.

2. The characteristics of the ideal
germinating medium.

3. Germination of beet seed planted
in a container of dry germinating
medium when compared to planting
the seed directly in the soil.

h. Possible protection to the young
seedling against black root infection
when planted in a sterile germinating
medium.

Sugar beet seed might be planted in containers during
January or February in a warehouse with precision type
machines especially designed to deposit single germ seed
pieces in a dry, sterilized germinating medium. At plant-
ing time the containers could be set in a vertical position,
at proper intervals, the ground firmed around them and a
strip of soil about eight inches wide sprayed with a suit-
able weed killer which would kill existing weeds and
prevent the growth of more weeds for at least two months.
During this time the beets would have grown sufficiently
large to be handled with conventional tools without the aid

of hand labor.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The enormous amount of hand labor necessary to
produce a crop of sugar beets has long been a noticeable
annoyance and a source of study.

It is reported (19) that Napoleon in 1812 awarded 2a
premiums to those who were most successful in the advance- I
ment of the new enterprize of beet sugar production. He
stressed the value of the crop because it provided many
hours of profitable employment for the peasants of his
domain.

Grant (16) in 1880 relating his experience on a trip
to France to investigate sugar beet culture and manufacture
of beet sugar reported that because the sugar beet seed is
so irregular in size and shape it is necessary to subject
it to certain treatments, such as screening and rubbing it
between two boards to reduce it to a uniform size to prevent
clogging of the planting machine, resulting in long spaces
in the lines (rows) without any seed.

In addition to the seeding problems of that day, he
discusses a method of using a horse cultivator to cross
the rows leaving beet blocks at the corners of squares
eighteen inches apart. In modern times we call it cross
blocking (17).

West (18) in 1901 says: "I have heard many farmers say
that they would raise beets were they sure of help during

the time of thinning. Although it seems that the farmer is

doomed to always be compelled to pull his beets by hand,
still I believe the time will soon come when this will
be done by machinery."

According to Robbins (7) a sugar beet seed as it is
known to the trade, is actually a cluster of several seeds,
and when a sugar beet seed is planted, from one to six
plants may emerge in a single clump.

Segmented seed was introduced in 1941. Roy Bainer (I)
thought that by breaking up the clusters of seed mechanic-
ally before planting, that some of the work of separating
the plants after emergence could be eliminated. His
preliminary trials showed that the use of segmented seed
reduced the amount of labor needed for blocking and
thinning a crop of beets.

The United States Department of Labor (8) recognized
that the use of segmented seed reduced the amount of
effort needed to block and thin an acre of beets.
Consequently in setting a fair and reasonable wage for
blocking and thinning an acre of sugar beets, they allowed
a reduction in wages of 16.5% from the rate when whole seed
was used in planting.

Pelleted seed was introduced in 19hl. (9) It was
thought that segmented seed containing 75 or 80% single
germs could be coated with some inert material, such as
feldspar or flyash, fertilizer materials and fungicides

and bound together with a water soluble plastic. By

 

 

 

fl’i '4 ‘— 491‘

H. .u. I>.'4,<i I.

pelleting the seed it would increase by 8 to 10 times its
original weight, increase the size by about 20 times and
provide a smooth uniform product, about the size of an
ordinary smooth coated pea thus permitting the use of a
precision type planter to deposit the seeds in the soil
at regularly spaced intervals in the row and eliminating
the need for hand blocking and thinning.

McGuffy (10) found that germination of pelleted seed
was reduced by 15% and pelleting delayed germination 1.2
days. He observed that pelleted seed did not germinate
as well as uncoated or ordinary seed, particularly under
adverse conditions. Pelleted seed has not been adopted
on a very wide scale because planters did not deposit the
seed uniformly.

Transplanting the sugar beets has been proposed from

time to time by many workers. Dionne (ll) reviewing the

work up to 1935 concluded transplanting might be practical

if a short root could be developed on the transplants.
The results of his work indicate that yields can be
increased A to 5 tons per acre, but that it is difficult
to maintain good shaped roots and mechanical transplanters
are not adapted to handling sugar beet transplants.

Sugar beet roots grow approximately 6 times the
length of the height of the top in the first 42 days of
growth (12).

e 4‘11..-

are

Seedling Diseases

Coons, Kotila and Bochstahler (2) found that seedling
diseases commonly called black root are the major factors
responsible for poor stands of sugar beets. Among the
organisms causing black root, only Phoma Beta is known
to be seed borne. Control of seedling diseases in the
humid area by direct (seed treatment) measures is
questionable:- at least so far it is not a reliable control.
Indirect measures such as proper crop sequence and fertil-
izer application show the most promise of meeting this
problem, but such a program is gigantic and necessarily a
very long time approach. Adequate initial stands of sugar
beets are of paramount importance if mechanization is ever

to be an accomplished fact.
Soil and Seed Bed Affect Emergence of Sugar Beets

Yoder (13) lists the following soil factors as
directly influencing the growth of sugar beets:

l. Soil-water supply

2. Soil-air supply

3. Soil-heat relations

h. Plant nutrient supply

5. Depth of root bed and

6. Presence or absence of injurious substances

McBirney (1h) discussing the general problem of

_ .. _f..____....-.w
. ' ‘I

1r?._- . “.3. .. .--- n.

securing a stand of beets in relation to planter develop-
ment concludes that:- "The wide variation in field emer-
gence on hundred inch counts with even the best types of
planters on what are apparently good seed beds seems to
indicate that our seed beds are too variable and not as

good as they should be. Further work to obtain improved

c-I— r‘ nu I. .f‘sa:

and more uniform emergence should include studies of seed
bed preparation in addition to that on planting equipment."

Baver (15) emphasizes the importance of soil structure

.‘ir ‘ “ “

in relation to germination and plant growth as follows:- "
"It is known that plants require nutrients, water, and
air for growth. The amount of nutrients in the soil is
usually taken as an index of fertility. The air and water
relationships are dependent upon structure. The growth of
plant roots and the germination of seeds require favorable
conditions for respiration. If there is a limited supply
of oxygen within.the soil as a result of poor structural
conditions, respiration processes are hindered; germination
and growth are retarded. These facts indicate that abundant
nutrients in the soil do not insure good crop production.
The investigations of numerous workers emphasize that in-
sufficient attention has been given to providing a
favorable environment for the germination of seeds and
growth of crops."

Therefore we must approach the problem of securing

good stands of sugar beets by providing a proper place for

the sugar beet seedling to germinate and grow for the first

few weeks of its growth.
METHOD OF PROCEDURE
Materials

The present experiment was started in the winter of
1950, by preparing four types of containers, made from
paper, for holding the germinating medium and the seed.

The first container may be described as a two ply tube
of chipboard which was impregnated with paraffin to make it
relatively stable and water resistant. The second was made
from a two ply chipboard tube. The third type was made
from two ply 50 pound Kraft paper. The fourth type was
made from two ply absorbent paper (towel tissues). All
tubes were one-half inch in diameter, two inches in length.
The ends were closed by three different methods; namely,
(1) plugged with cotton linters, (2) stuck together with
water soluble glue, and (3) closed with an ordinary desk
type paper stapling machine.

Four types of germinating material, sand, loam, clay,
muck and vermiculite were used to fill the tubes. The soil
samples were all screened to remove stone and all large
pieces of dirt to facilitate filling the tubes. The soil
was then placed in a steam chamber at the Michigan Sugar

Company laboratory and subjected to #0 pounds live steam

pressure for 2 hours for sterilization, after which it was
dried in an oven for 30 hours. Distilled water was then
added to bring the moisture content of the soil up to 10%.

‘The planting tubes were filled half full with the
germinating medium, a seed was placed in the tube and
filling completed. After filling, the tubes were closed
by the various methods previously described. The seed was
of the same commercial grade used for planting the 1950
crop in the Lansing area. (Table l.)

A planting bed was prepared 10 x 10 feet square, 16
inches deep and bound by planks set on edge. The soil'
used was a mixture of all types of soil high in organic
matter from fields which had grown beets in 19A9. The soil
was packed and then raked so that a fine mulch was left on
the upper one-half inch. (Figure A.) It was allowed to
stand in this condition for one week and then raked lightly

again before planting.

Planting

The plot was divided into four parts, each being 60 x
60 inches square and planted on May 29, 1950 according to
the chart in Figure 2. A row of seed was planted on each
side of the plot placing the seeds in a trench 1 inch deep,
11 seeds to the foot which was comparable to the conventional
method of drilling A pounds of seed per acre in 28 inch rows.

Six rows were planted by placing the seed 1 inch deep and

‘i-«ri“ _._.,

-- . u;.-.—...,_.I
’,

-10-

6 inches apart in the row. These 6 rows were used as

check rows for comparison with the various container plant-
ings. The planting tubes were then placed in rows 3 inches
apart, and spaced 6 inches apart in the row.

In order to insure uniformity in the planting, a piece
of wood was turned down in a lathe to 5/8 inch diameter
and a large collar fitted two inches from the end. See
Figure l. The rounded portion was pushed into the soil
until the collar rested at the surface of the soil. When
it was removed, this left a hole into which the tube could
be placed and the top of the tube was level with the ground.
The soil was firmed gently about the tube with the fingers.

On May 9th, 11 days after planting, the plot received
1.4 inches of rain. By this time the entire plot had
become quite dry. It wasn't until the 25th of May or 27
days after planting that there was sufficient moisture to
germinate any of the seed in the plot. See Figure 3.

On June 2nd, Figure 3, more than a month after plant-
ing a rain of 2.30 inches occurred. The first beets
emerged June 6th, Figure 5, and population counts were
started and were taken thereafter on June 10th, June 13th,
June 20th, June 27th and July Ath, after which the entire
plot was dug up and the roots were all carefully washed and

examined for size and shape. Figure 6 and Figure 7.

‘f‘t- ' -

$3-. _~.._.-_._..._ .A

-11-

Table l.

 

 

Germination of seed used for conducting this investigation.
100 seeds used in each of four samples. 1h day test.

 

fl #3. fl is

 

Singles 56 52 52 60

Doubles 32 32 30 28

Triples 1

Total Sprouts 123 116 112 116

No. Seeds Germinated 89 8A 82 88
Figure l.

A device for gauging the depth of planting the containers.

- Handle

 

--- Depth Gauge Collar

 

---- Plunger for making hole
in which to set
containers

 

 

‘1 1r. .

-12-

Figure 2.

A diagram of plot lay out.

 

O. O. O. O. I
C

O. O. O. O. O. 0.

Sec. D Sec. A

 

 

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Sec. C. Sec. B.

 

 

 

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2

3

1. Edge

2. Seed

3. Seed

Sec. A.
Sec. B.
Sec. 0.
Sec. D.

row seed spaced 11 seeds per foot of row
Spaced 6 inches apart planted 1 inch deep
containers spaced 6 inches apart

Planted to Chipboard with paraffin series
Planted to chipboard series

Planted to towel tissue series

Planted to Kraft paper series

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Figure A.

 

Preparing the planting plot

Figure 5.

 

 

First beets emerged June 6th

-15-

Figure 6.

 

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General view digging plot July Ath

Figure 7.

 

 

Size and shape were carefully observed

-16-

Figure 8.

 

Left - restricted growth in paraffin chip-
board series.

Right - normal growth in towel tissue series.

-17-

Figure 9.

 

\- ~x \\_- \y\

M 7“ “I-A \—\ \-\_,\_-_’\- 7M_x‘\\\\»-\

Left - injured by staples.
Center - completely severed by staples.

Right - normal growth in towel tissue series.

 

-18-

Figure 10.

 

A normal shaped sugar beet root washed

clean of dirt in the towel tissue series.

-19-

 

 

 

 

 

o o o o o o o o o o o . .0H5tm>
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H o o H o H o o o o o e .OHsnm>
m o O m 0 m 0 O O O O .- #032
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-22...

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-23-

 

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-24-

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-27-

 

 

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-28-

 

 

 

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-29-

 

 

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.w eHeen

-30-

 

 

 

 

 

Table 9. - Total Plants
When Closure was Normal Abnormal
Cotton 53 13
Glued #5 10
Stapled 47 3A
Check 33 2
Table 10. - Total Plants
When Container was Normal Abnormal
Paraffin Chipboard 0 l7
Chipboard 39 12
Kraft 30 . 15

Towel 76 13

 

-31-

DISCUSSION

Tables 2, 3, A and 5 offer a detailed compilation of
the results of the experiment. 5

It was obvious that when beets were planted in water
resistant containers that germination was almost completely
halted and only after the moisture entered from the top,
did a few of the seeds germinate. A few plants finally
produced a few leaves, but the roots were completely con-
fined in the container at the end of the.experiment.

The containers made of paraffined chipboard were very
stable, which made them easy to fill, handle, store and
plant but, growth was practically prevented.

Containers made from chipboard were very stable in
structure, were easily filled, handled and stored and were
more water absorptive than the paraffined chipboard. Al-
though this type of container allowed more rapid penetration
of soil moisture and consequently more rapid germination
than the very water resistant paraffined chipboard, it
apparently interfered with plant growth. Table 7.

Containers made from Kraft paper were stable in
structure, easily filled, lighter and less bulky to store
than chipboard containers. The paper was tough and even
though fairly water absorptive, the soil moisture did not
penetrate as readily as towel tissue. For all practical
purposes, it would compare favorably with chipboard, both

producing fewer plants than the check.

-32-

Towel tissue, the most water absorptive type container
used, interfered the least with germination, although it
was much slower than the check. However by the 13th of
June a11 plantings except the paraffined chipboard reached
their maximum germination, and at the end of the period of
growth there was a 66% stand where towel tissue was used,
compared to 58.3% in the check.

The towel tissue series was more than twice as good as
any other treatment and appreciably better than the check.

0n the 13th of June, the two outside rows of beets
drilled at the A pound rate of seeding had become so infect-
ed with blackroot and so spindly that they were falling over
the check rows. They had to be removed at this time, so as
not to interfere with the growth of the check rows. It is
interesting to note that this was only one week after
emergence and these beets had already reached the stage
where thinning was necessary. This condition was similar
to what often happens in the commercial field when labor is
not available or weather does not permit thinning.

In contrast_the plants spaced 6 inches apart in the
check rows were sturdy, were not suffering from crowding,
but blackroot was beginning to show up and by the end of
the test the checks were reduced in stand by 58%. However
the plants in the towel tissue containers were reduced by

only 36%, in the Kraft containers by only 32%, in the

-33-

chipboard containers by only 40%. This would indicate
that the sterile column of soil in which the seed was
planted protected the plant against a serious attack by
blackroot.

The method of closing the tubes, Table 8, gave some
very interesting figures for study and produced some odd
effects on the beet roots.

All of the plants produced in the paraffined chipboard
containers regardless of the way they were closed, were
abnormal in root growth.

There was a higher percentage of germination and a
more rapid germination when the tubes were closed with a
paper staple, but the tap roots grew through the staple and
were either pinched severely or in some cases completely
severed, Figure 9. Forty-two percent of all the tap roots
were abnormal in shape at the end of the experiment, Table 9.
Therefore closing the tubes with paper staples must be con-
sidered to be damaging to the root.

When the tubes were stuck together with glue or plugged
with cotton, the abnormal plants amounted to only 18% and
20%, respectively. The abnormal plants in the checks
amounted to 5.7%.

The type of material used as a germinating medium in-
fluenced the immediate germination and the livability of
the plants as shown by Table 6. Sand was the least
desirable type of germinating medium. Clay, muck and

vermiculite media appeared better than sand and nearly

-34-

alike in results. However loam was appreciably better
than any other type of germinating medium used, giving
less delay in germination and showing a greater percent-
age of living plants at the conclusion of the test. There
was much less loss from blackroot in all of the treatments
than in the check. The vermiculite showed the least per-
centage loss from maximum number emerged to completion of
the test, but the total germination was not nearly as
good as the containers filled with loam.

Root shape was not influenced by the type of germi-
nating material used, nor the type of container except
in the case of paraffined chipboard in which all were

abnormal, Table 10.
SUMNARY

The season of 1950 was far from ideal for germination
of beet seed. During May the weather was cool and dry
for most of the period.

Planting seeds in a dry germinating medium was given
a rigid test under these conditions.

Germination was visibly slower in the treated rows
(planted in containers). 'From this experiment it would
appear that the germination of beet seed may be delayed
as much as 3 or A days when planted in containers with dry

germinating medium, in comparison to seed planted directly

in the soil.

-3 5..

Sterilized soil planted in a column about a seed
offers some protection to the germinating seed and young
plant from the attacks of blackroot.

Loam soil was the best type of germinating medium
used in this test.

The results of this experiment seemed to indicate
that if seed is to be planted in this manner that the
containers must be as water absorptive as possible and
yet tough enough to be handled, when filling and planting.
Towel tissue paper containers proved to be stable enough
to handle, when filled with soil, and were planted as
easily as heavier type containers. Germination was most
rapid when seed was planted in towel tissue containers
with loam soil as a germinating medium and when the tubes
were closed with paper staples. Paper staples however
interfered with the proper development of the tap root.

Pre-packaging and space planting of sugar beet seed
in small containers appears to be a feasible technique
provided efficient machines for packaging and planting

were developed.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(A)

(5)
(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

(12)

-36-

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Bainer, Roy, "Seed Segmenting Devices." Proceed-
ings Am. Society of Sugar Beet Technologists,
19A2.

Coons, G. H., J. E. Kotila, H. W. Bochstahler,
"Black Root of Sugar Beets and Possibilities for
its Control." Proceedings Am. Society of Sugar
Beet Technologists, l9A6.

Hentschel, H. E., "A Study of Principles Affecting
the Performance of Mechanical Sugar Beet Planters."
Thesis, M. S. Degree, Michigan State College, 19A6.

Johnson, Clarence Edmund, "The Influence of New
Sugar Beet Production Methods on Time and Cost
Requirements in Michigan." Thesis, M. S. Degree,
Michigan State College, l9h7.

U. S. D. A. Agricultural Statistics.

Memo Reports of Farmers and Manufacturers Beet
Sugar Association.

Robbins, W. W., "The Botany of Crop Plants."
P. Blakiston's Son & 00., Philadelphia, 192A
pages 306-307.

U. S. D. A. Title 7 Agriculture Sugar Determination
862.2 1950. "Fair and Reasonable Wage."

Buschlen, M. J., "Pelleting Segmented Beet Seed."
page 21 - Sugar - New York, Feb. 19AA. .

McGuffey, William Carl, "The Effect of Pelleting
on the Germination of Vegetable Seeds." Thesis,
M. S. Degree, Michigan State College, 1935.

Dionne, Gilbert, "Transplanting Sugar Beets."
Thesis, M. S. Degree, Michigan State College,
1935.

Weaver and Bruner, "Root Development of Vegetable
Crops." page 7A. McGraw Hill, New York, 1927.

-37..

(13) Yoder, R. E., "Soil Management as Related to
Sugar Beet Production." Ohio Agricultural
Exp't. Station, Agronomy Memo. No. 93, l9hh.

(1A) Mc Birney, S. W., "Beet Planter Development to
Improve Seedling Emergence." Memo. Dated June,

19A6.

(15) Baver, L. D., "Soil Physics." Page 189. John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 19A0.

(16) Grant, E. B., "Beet Root Sugar and Cultivation
of the Beet." Page 96-100. Boston. Lee &
Shepard, 1880.

(17) Mervine, E. M., "Cross Blocking Sugar Beets by
Machine." U. S. D. A. Leaflet 97, 1933.

(18) West, Francis E., "Sugar Beets as a Crop for the
Michigan Farmer." .Thesis M. S. in Agriculture,
Michigan State College, 1901.

(19) "A Centenary of the Beet Sugar Industry in the
United States & Translations of the Several French
Chapters on the Agriculture and Technology of Beet
Sugar Production." Sugar - New York, New York.

(20) ”The Dictionary of Paper." American Paper & Pulp
Association, New York, New York. 19A0.

(21) Painter, Charles, "The Effect of Soil Aggregation
and Seed Treatment on Germination of Segmented
Sugar Beet Seed and Emergence of the Seedlings."
Thesis, M. S. Degree, Michigan State College, 19A8.

R3833. USE 0N1!