Possibility of Sugar Beet Production in Toshka Region -: I. Assessment of the Optimum Harvesting Age

Abstract

Two field trails were carried out at the Farm of South Valley Development Company, Toshka, (latitude of 22 o.49- N, longitude of 28 o.58- E and an elevation of 188 m above sea level) Aswan Governorate, Upper Egypt in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons. These trials aimed to find out the optimum harvesting age (180, 195, 210 and 225 days) for five sugar beet varieties four of them are multi-germ varieties namely Misribel, Halawa, Husam, and Habiba and one is mono variety namely Natora. The experimental design was a factorial experiment conducted in a complete randomized block design with three replications. Results indicated that delaying harvesting date up to age 225 days significantly increased root length, root diameter, sucrose, purity, extractable sugar and extractability percentages as well as root and sugar yields/fad. Root contents of impurities (α-amino N, Na and K) were significantly influenced by delaying the harvest age. Results showed that sugar beet varieties differed significantly in root length, root and sugar yields/fad. as well as sucrose, purity, impurities percentages. Under the conditions of Toshka region, the results suggested that harvesting Misribel variety at age of 210 days can be recommended to produce the best quality as well as the highest root and sugar yields/fad.