The relative importance of cluster size, sowing depth, time of seedling emergence and between-plant spacing on variation in plant size in red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) crops

Abstract

SummaryBeets with a coefficient of variation (c.v.) of weight of only 36–46% were produced by reducing the variation in cluster size, sowing depth, time of seedling emergence, proximity and size of neighbours to as low a value as practicable. The relative importance of these different sources of variation in plant size was examined in two experiments sown in contrasting conditions.Variation in time of seedling emergence was a major source of variation in plant size and was partially caused by variation in the environment around the clusters. Variation in true seed size and between-plant spacing was achieved by use of clusters of different sizes, but these factors were associated with only a negligible variation in root size. Similarly, local interactions between plants, brought about by variation in plant-to-plant spacing, accounted for only a small proportion of the variation in root weight.