Influence of agronomic innovations on the enhancement of yield and quality of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cv. California-KWS under the agro-climatic conditions of Dera Ismail Khan.

Abstract

Agronomic practices play a very important role in enhancing yield and quality of sugar beet. Keeping in view the importance of sugar beet crop in the area, a series of five experiments were conducted during 2013-14 and 2014-15 to see the influence of different agronomic innovations on the yield and quality of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cv. California-KWS under the agro-climatic conditions of Dera Ismail Khan. The experiments include, the effect of different sowing dates and methods, response of beet to different N-levels and application times, plant population, different irrigation intervals and application of Dual Gold. The experiments No.1, 2 & 3 were carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design, with two factorial arrangements and three replications while experiment No. 4 & 5 were simple RCBD. Data on different quantitative and qualitative characters like chlorophyll content, plant height (cm), number of leaves plant-1 , leaf length (cm), leaf area (cm2 ), leaf weight plant-1 (g), root weight plant -1 (g), root: top ratio, root length (cm), root diameter (cm), sucrose%, TSS %, purity %, leaf yield (t ha-1 ), root yield (t ha-1 ), sugar yield (t ha-1 ) and harvesting index% were collected and statistically analyzed. Experiments regarding sowing dates (1 st October, 11th October, 21st October, 1st November & 11th November) and sowing methods (direct seeding & transplanting) revealed that amongst sowing dates, the 11th October sowing resulted in superior plant growth, yield and quality of sugar beet during both years. 11th October sowing improved almost all the studied characters during both years while harvesting index% was maximum on 11th November sowing. Similarly, transplanting was superior in terms of growth, yield and quality characters as compared to direct seeding. However, maximum plant height (cm), number of leaves plant-1 , root length (cm) and harvesting index% were obtained in direct seeded beet. Study on different N-levels (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 & 250 kg ha-1 ) and N-application times (2-times, 3-times & 4-times) revealed that the maximum values for growth (Chlorophyll content, plant height, number of leaves plant -1 , leaf area, root length, diameter) and yield (root and sugar yield t ha-1 ) were recorded with the application of N-250 kg ha-1 . Root: top ratio was maximum in N-100 kg ha-1 while sucrose%, TSS% and purity% were maximum in N-150 kg ha -1 . N-application times indicated that applying nitrogen 4-times (45, 60, 75 & 90 days after sowing) was superior in enhancing the productivity of sugar beet due to better N-use efficiency. Maximum sucrose%, TSS%, sugar yield t ha-1 and harvesting index% were recorded in 2-times application. Spacing effects of plants (20, 30, 40, 50 & 60 cm) and rows (40, 50 & 60 cm) indicated that plant spacing 20 cm was superior in enhancing the yield and quality of sugar beet during both years. Plant height (cm), leaf length (cm), leaf area (cm2 ), foliage weight plant-1 (g), root weight plant-1 (g) and root: top ratio was maximum at 40 cm plant spacing. Number of leaves plant -1 were maximum at 30 cm and root diameter at 60 cm plant spacing. Row spacings indicated that 50 cm between rows enhanced almost all the characters under study of the sugar beet. xv Experiments on irrigation regimes (05, 10, 15, 20, 25 & 30 days) revealed that 15 days interval produced higher growth, yield and quality characters. Most of the parameters were improved at 15-20 days intervals. So, 15-20 days interval was the best for obtaining highest beet yield and quality. Study on Dual Gold application times (pre-emergence, application after 15, 30 & 45 days after emergence and control) indicated that pre-emergence application of Dual gold controlled the weed population by reducing fresh and dry weed biomass, enhanced the productivity, yield and quality characters of the sugar beet. While maximum fresh and dry weed biomasses were recorded in control (weedy check). Overall conclusion of the study depicts that sugar beet could be grown on 11th October to obtain highest yield along with quality attributes. In terms of in row and between row spacing, 20cm×50cm should be adopted to have sufficient plant population. Nitrogen could be applied 4 times at the rate of 250 kg ha-1 . Dual gold could be used as pre-emergence weedicide and the irrigation should not be delayed beyond 15-20 days to avoid yield loses under the arid conditions of D. I. Khan.