Yield and quality of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) at different water and nitrogen levels under the climatic conditions of Kirsehir, Turkey

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of different irrigation and nitrogen levels on yield, yield components, and sugar rate of the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) during the years 2012 and 2013 in the Kirsehir province of Turkey. Experiments were carried out in split plots in randomized blocks with three replications. The application of irrigation water was based on cumulative class A pan evaporation within the irrigation intervals. Treatments consisted of one irrigation interval (7 days) and three different irrigation levels (I-1, I-2, and I-3) adjusted according to the class A pan evaporation (E-pan) using three different plant-pan coefficients (K-cp1 : 0.5; K-cp2: 0.75; and K-cp3: 1.00) and four nitrogen fertilizer levels (N-1: 30 kg ha(-1); N-2: 40 kg ha(-1); N-3: 50 kg ha(-1); and N-4: 60 kg ha(-1)). The highest WUE and IWUE values, the best quality parameters (Na, K, and alpha-amino nitrogen), and economic sugar beet root yield was determined in the treatment of I1N1 (K-cp1: 0.5 and 30 kg ha(-1) of N). Therefore, this treatment can be used for sugar beet cultivation under similar climate and soil conditions. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.