THE EFFECT OF SILICON FOLIAR FERTILIZATION IN SUGAR BEET - Beta vulgaris (L.) ssp vulgaris conv. crassa (Alef.) prov. altissima (Doll)

Presented results are extended continuation study of earlier research (2010-2012) on silicon fertilization effect and comes from the research that was conducted in 2013-2014 in the southeastern region of Poland, in Sahryn (50 degrees 41' N and 23 degrees 46' E). Two variants of silicon foliar fertilization were tested in sugar beet, Danuska KWS variety. Two kinds of silicon fertilizers (Herbagreen Basic and Optysil) in 3 stages (in the stage of 4-6 sugar leaf, than a week and two weeks later). One of the silicon fertilizer contained marine calcite and silicon (Ca+Si) and the second one contained silicon (Si) only. Seven variants of foliar fertilization including control variant were tested as total. Foliar fertilization regardless of the kind of fertilizer resulted in increases of: 1) the root yield (for Ca+Si variant 10.4-16.2% and for Si variant 13.7-15.9%), 2) biological sugar yield (respectively 11.4-18.1% and 13.7-15.9%), 3) technological sugar yield (respectively 12.2-17.7% and 12.2-15.6%) compared with the control variant. However the tested variants had no effect for technological root quality compared with the control. A tendencies to decrease content of sodium as a result of foliar fertilizations were observed only.