Effect of planting systems, plant density and nitrogen fertilizer levels on productivity and quality of sugar beet [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

Two field experiments were carried out at Kafr El-Hamam Research Station, Zagazig district, Sharkia Governorate, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt, during 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 seasons to study the effect of planting systems (manual sowing and mechanical transplanting), plant densities (46000, 35000 and 28000 plants/fed) and nitrogen fertilizer levels (40, 60 and 80 kg N/fed) on yield and its components as well as quality of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cv. Plino. The obtained results could be summarized as follows: 1-Mechanical transplanting system of sugar beet significantly surpassed the traditional sowing method (manual) in all studied characters and resulted in the highest values in both seasons. 2-Sowing sugar beet plants with low density (28000 plants/fed) recorded the highest values of root length and diameter, root and top fresh weights and TSS % in both seasons. While, sowing sugar beet plants with high density (46000 plants/fed) resulted in the highest values of sucrose and apparent purity percentages in both seasons. However, the highest yields of root and sugar were achieved as a result of sowing sugar beet with intermediate density (35000 plants/fed) in both seasons.

Summary in Arabic.

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