AFFECTING THE DESIGN PARAMETERS OF RIDGER FURROW OPENER AND PLANTING METHODS ON SUGAR BEET YIELD AND WATER USE EFFICENCY

Abstract

Design parameters of the ridger furrow opener directly affecting the furrow profile characteristics and the amount of applied water. Furrow-bed irrigation technique is usually used for water conservation, efficient fertilizer use and many other benefits. This study was to evaluate the impact of design parameters of the ridger furrow opener and planting methods on sugar beet yield and water use efficiency. Therefore, field experiments were conducted to (i) investigate the effects of share rake angles (20o, 25o and 30o), opener wing angles (35o and 45o) and wing shapes (straight and curved) on the furrow profile characteristics, transverse scattering, draft force, and (ii) evaluate planting methods (i.e. ridges with 50 cm rows spacing and pair of rows on bed with 30, 35 and 40 cm rows spacing), the wing shape and angles on the percentage of emergence, sugar percentage, root and sugar yield, applied water and water use efficiency. The results showed that the curved shape and the wing angle of 45o produced wider furrows than those produced by the straight shape and 35o wing angle. Minimum transverse scattering was associated with the curved wing, wing angle of 35o and share rake angle of 20o. Increasing the share rake and wing angles increased the required draft force. The highest average values of root and sugar yields could be achieved by planting beet in beds with 30 cm rows spacing flowed by beds with 35 and 40 cm rows spacing, respectively. The lowest value of the water use efficiency was achieved by planting on ridges compared to the other planting methods. The maximum emergence percentage, root and sugar yields, sugar percentage and water use efficiency were associated with a wing angle of 45o and the curved wing shape.