Influence of Sowing Method and Potassium Fertilization on Yield and Technological Traits of Some Sugar Beet Varieties

S.R. Salem, El-Araby; I.H. El-Geddawy, Yara; A. Sadek, Karam

doi:10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2024.369766

Influence of Sowing Method and Potassium Fertilization on Yield and Technological Traits of Some Sugar Beet Varieties

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Physiol. Chem. Dept-Sugar Crops Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center

² Sugar Technol. Dept. -Sugar Crops Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center

³ Agron. Dept. Sugar Crops Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center

10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2024.369766

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in the two successive seasons i.e., 2022/23 and 2023/24 in Sinnuris, El-Fayoum Governorate (latitude 29° 27′ 34″N and longitude 30° 50′ 00.6″E) to find out the optimal sowing method and potassium fertilizer level to get the highest yield and quality traits of sugar beet. This work included eighteen treatments represent the combinations of two sowing methods (traditionally, in rows of 0.5 m apart and a manual double-row plantar sowing machine, with 0.35 m between rows) in addition to three potassium fertilizer levels (24, 36 and 48 kg K₂O/fed) for planting three monogerm sugar beet varieties, namely Joko, Narmar and Wombat Smart. A randomized complete block design in a split-split plot arrangement was used.
The results indicated that sowing sugar beet mechanically using hand planter scored higher values of root and sugar yields/fed and improved the values of sucrose and the extracted sugar % compared to traditional manual sowing method. Increasing potassium levels from 24 to 36 and 48 kg K₂O/fed significantly increased in root and sugar yields, as well as harvest index without significant difference between the two higher K⁺ levels in all measured yield traits in both seasons, except for harvest index in the 1^st season. There was a general tendency toward increasing the studied growth characters of sugar beet due to the gradual increase in potassium fertilizer levels. Increasing K levels decreased α-amino N in roots. Insignificant variance was detected between the tested sugar beet varieties and/or sowing methods in their effect on root impurities in terms of Na⁺, K⁺, α-amino N and alkalinity coefficient.
Under conditions of the present work, sowing sugar beet “Wombat Smart” variety using manual double-row planter for sowing and fertilized it with 36 or 48 kg K₂O/fed can be recommended to increase root and sugar yields/fed.

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