Response of sugar beet varieties to plant geometrical distribution

Abstract

Sugar beet is the most important sugar crop that can be grown commercially in a wide variety of temperate regions. The beet sugar industry in the tropical and subtropical regions, which are mostly developing countries is growing as an important component of sugar production. A field experiment was conducted at Delta Sugar Company Research Farm, El-Hamool, Kafr El- Sheikh, Egypt to evaluate the response of sugar beet varieties to inter- and intra-row distances. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant effects of inter- and intra-row distances on all studied traits, i.e., sucrose content (Pol%), Na%, K%, α-amino-N%, quality index (Qz)%, root yield (RY), recoverable sugar (RS)%, recoverable sugar yield (RSY), sugar loss (SL)% and sugar loss yield (SLY) either in one or both growing seasons except for the effect of inter-row planting distances on Na% and loss sugar yield in both growing seasons. The results revealed that increasing the inter-row planting distance from 50 to 60 cm led to a significant reduction in sucrose content, Na%, RY, RS% and RSY. However, increasing the inter-row planting distance from 50 to 60 cm is associated with a significant reduction in the Qz%, RS%, SL% and SLY. Increasing the intra-row planting distances from 10 to 15 cm led to a significant reduction in sucrose%, Na%, Qz% and RS%. Additionally, significant variations in all studied traits were observed among varieties. The interactions between the studies factors and varieties exhibited significant effects on all studied traits. Planting the variety Garrot at 15 and 50 cm intra- and inter-row distances produced the highest Qz%, RY and RSY. The lowest SLY resulted from planting the sugar beet variety Husam at 10 and 60 cm intra- and inter-row planting distances. The results of the present study of great importance for a sustainable production of sugar beet in Egypt.