Evaluation of chemical composition of roots of three sugar beets varieties growing under different water deficit and harvesting dates in Upper Egypt

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out at Shandaweel Agricultural Research Station, Sohag, Egypt to study the effects of deficit irrigation and harvesting date chemical composition of three sugar beet varieties. A split block design with three replications was used. Main blokes were assigned to three irrigation water regimes (100%, 85%, and 70% of water requirement). The sub blot was occupied by three harvesting dates (180, 195 and 210 days). Sub- sub plots comprised three sugar beet varieties namely (RAVEL, SV1841and SA1686). Results indicated that reducing water supply reduced alpha - amino N present in the second season, Na present in the second season, and K present and sugar lost to molasses, but increased sucrose present, extractable present, QZ present, purity present, extractability present. Increasing harvesting date increased K present, sucrose present, extractable present, QZ present, purity present, extractability present but reduced alpha - amino N present, Na present and sugar lost to molasses in the second season. Sucrose present, extractable present, QZ present purity present and extractability present of RAVEL and SA1686 varieties were almost comparable but higher than those of SV1841 variety.