Growth traits and beet weight of tropical sugar beet responses to foliar application of boron

Md Sohrab Hossain,Chandan Kumar Mahapatra,Shubroto Kumar Sarkar,Swapan Kumar Paul,Md Abdur Rahman Sarkar,Shritinnahar Bithy

doi:10.3329/ralf.v8i2.55488

Md Sohrab Hossain, Chandan Kumar Mahapatra + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3329/ralf.v8i2.55488

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Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to assess the response of foliar application of boron on growth and beet weight. The experiment consisted of foliar application of boron at four concentrations viz. 0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm, and frequency of application thrice viz. once at 40 days after emergence (DAE), twice at 40 and 65 DAE and thrice at 40, 65 and 90 DAE. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Growth traits and average beet weight were significantly influenced by boron concentration and frequency of application. At later stage of growth (at 140 days after sowing) the tallest plant, number of leaves/plants, shoot dry weight, root dry weight and root length were recorded in 150 ppm boron with three times foliar application at 40, 65 and 90 DAE. The highest average beet weight (1.04 kg/beet) was recorded in 150 ppm boron with foliar application thrice at 40, 65 and 90 DAE followed by 100 ppm boron with foliar application at 40, 65 and 90 DAE while the lowest one 0.28 kg/beet was found in control. So, from the result it can be concluded that 150 ppm boron with foliar application at 40, 65 and 90 DAE seems to be promising in terms of growth attributes and average beet weight/plant of tropical sugar beet. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.8(2): 181-191, August 2021

Highlights

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a biennial root crop which develops leaf rosette and a beet in the first year and flowers in the second year
Statistical Analysis Data were analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique with the help of computer package program MSTAT-C and mean differences were adjudged by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (Gomez and Gomez, 1984)
At 140 Days after sowing (DAS), the highest shoot dry weight (133.50 g) was obtained in B2 × T3 (100 ppm boron × foliar application thrice at [40, 65] and 90 days after emergence (DAE)) which was at par with (132.60 g) B3 × T1 (150 ppm boron × foliar application once at 40 DAE), B3 × T3 (150 ppm boron × foliar application thrice at [40, 65] and 90 DAE), B1 × T2 (50 ppm boron × foliar application twice at 40 and 65 DAE), B3 × T2 (150 ppm boron × foliar application twice at 40 and 65 DAE) and the lowest shoot dry weight (84.93 g) was obtained in B0 × T3 (0 ppm boron × foliar application thrice at [40, 65] and 90 DAE) (Table 3)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a biennial root crop which develops leaf rosette and a beet in the first year and flowers in the second year. Sugar beet seems to be an encouraging sugar crop due to its short duration, less requirement of water, higher yield and high sucrose content compared to sugarcane. Foliar application of boron lead to higher yield and better quality compared to the time using boric acid in soil. Bithy et al (2020) reported that increased rate and frequency of foliar application of boron suppressed crown rot incidence and enhanced beet yield and juice quality. Enan et al (2016) observed that foliar application of 100 ppm boron increased beet weight/plant, beet and sugar yields, and boron contents in leaves and roots at harvest. Foliar application of boron @ 0.20 to 0.25 g L-1 increased beet yield and juice quality when applied twice at 80 and 110 days after planting (Abbas et al, 2014).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION