Patterns of changes in the yield and quality of sugar beet roots under the application of measures increasing tolerance to water deficit in the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

Purpose. To establish the yield and quality patterns of sugar beet under the application of measures to increase plant tolerance to water deficit in the conditions of unstable soil water content in the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field experiment was carried out in the zone of unstable soil water content in the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine at the experimental field of the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beet of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine (50.023194, 30.173895) in 2014–2018. Results. Weather conditions during the years of research varied, and the greatest need of sugar beet plants for water was observed in the period from the closing of the leaves in the row to the closing of the leaves between rows. At the stage of canopy closure (BBCH 30), the lowest soil water content was in the 0–50 cm soil layer in 2017, and the highest in 2014. The rest of the years had close to average indicators of the water content in soil. The use of moisture-retaining polymer provided additional 5 mm soil water accumulation the upper soil layers. Conclusions. The most effective agronomic measure was the use of Aquasorb moisture-retaining polymer, which contributed to an increase in the root yield by 12.47%. In general, the highest indicators of the root yield and sugar yield at factory were obtained with the combined application of moisture-retaining polymers Aquasorb (300 kg/ha), concentrate of soil bacteria Mirazonit (20 l/ha), growth regulator Kelpak SC (2 l/ha BBCH14 + 4 l/ha BBCH 18) and microfertiliser Alpha-Grow-Extra Beetroot (3 l/ha BBCH 18) – 79.0 t/ha and 15.95%, respectively. With the application of micro-fertiliser Micro-Mineralis (Beets) (1.5 l/ha BBCH 18), these indicators were 78.9 t/ha and 15.96%, respectively. This indicates that the mineral nutrition of sugar beets remained at the optimal level, ensuring obtaining of high-quality roots.