Effect of irrigation methods and nitrogen application on sugar beet yield and quality

Abstract

In order to study the effects of different irrigation system and different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer on yield and quality of sugar beet, an experiment was conducted at Ekbatan Research Station, Hamedan during 2005-2006 as split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plots were irrigation systems (furrow, sprinkler and drip irrigation) and subplots were nitrogen fertilizer, (0, 120, 180 and 240 kgha-1). The results showed that, interaction of irrigation system and nitro-gen fertilizers was significant for all traits except sugar content, white sugar yield and mollases sugar. Results of means compari-son showed that the highest root yield (101.61 ton.ha-1) was obtained in sprinkler irrigation with application of 240 kgha-1 nitrogen fertilizer. The highest value of this trait in furrow irrigation was obtained with 180 to 240 and in drip irrigation with 180 kgha-1 nitrogen fertilizer. The amount of nitrogen required in sprinkler, furrow and drip irrigation was 240, 180 and 180 kgha-1, respective-ly. In drip irrigation, rate of water use was 50 percent less than that of furrow irrigation, however the root yield was not signifi-cantly different in the two systems. Therefore, drip irrigation system in areas with limitation of water is recommended.

Keywords

• drip
• furrow
• nitrogen
• quality
• irrigation
• sprinkler
• sugar beet
• yield