A method of protecting the seed bed of drilled beet against crust formation caused by liming is disclosed, in which the lime is applied to the row in the form of narrow strips simultaneously with the drilling or crop protection steps. The lime stabilises the crumbly structure of the soil in the area of the plant rows and prevents poor plant emergence due to crust formation. Fig. 1 shows a device for carrying out the method with the aid of an example in which a row spreader for lime which spreads the lime by means of a revolving endless chain is arranged above a beet drilling machine. <IMAGE>
