Plant and Soil Science

Sowing parameters as a factor in emergence synchrony and productivity of sugar beet crops

Dmytro Kyselov, Taras Bliatnyk, Svitlana Kalenska
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Abstract

Modern sugar beet production is characterised by rising climate instability and the increasing impact of the early stages of organogenesis on crop productivity. In the conditions of a cool and wet spring, the problem of optimising the manageable sowing parameters, which can ensure the uniformity of seed germination and the synchrony of plant growth, acquires particular relevance. This study aimed to provide a scientific justification for the influence of coulter downforce and seeder travel speed on emergence synchrony and root mass formation in the sugar beet hybrid KWS ‘Riorita’ in the conditions of the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The research was carried out in 2025 on a productive research field on podzolised medium loam chernozem in the contrasting hydrothermal conditions of the sowing period. The experimental scheme included varying the coulter downforce and the seeder travel speed. The dynamics of seedling emergence, emergence synchrony, the spatial uniformity of the stand and root mass formation were measured. Statistical analysis was processed using analysis of variance and regression methods. It was found that an increase in coulter downforce to 40-60 kg significantly reduced the number of late-emerging seedlings and provided emergence synchrony at 96%, while with minimal pressure, it did not exceed 84%. A decrease in the proportion of seedlings emerging on days 9-10 after sowing was accompanied by an improvement in the uniformity of the stand and a stabilisation of the average root mass. A biological optimum was determined for the seeder travel speed at 7 km·h⁻¹, at which the best combination of spatial uniformity of sowing, high emergence synchrony and maximum root mass was achieved. A decrease and excessive increase in speed negatively affected productivity. The quantitative analysis showed that a delay in emergence of 1 to 2 days led to a sharp decrease in root mass; the late-emerging plants formed roots with 24% to 39% lower mass compared to the early‑emerging ones. The practical significance of the study is to substantiate the sowing parameters aimed at minimising emergence asynchrony as a key prerequisite for the stable formation of sugar beet yield under production conditions

Keywords

coulter downforce; seeder speed; early plant development; root mass; sowing technology

Suggested citation
Kyselov, D., Bliatnyk, T., & Kalenska, S. (2026). Sowing parameters as a factor in emergence synchrony and productivity of sugar beet crops. Plant and Soil Science, 17(2), 34-44. https://doi.org/10.31548/plant2.2026.34
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