Sugar Beet Production Research Articles

SHALLOW AND COMBINED TILLAGE OF BLACK SOIL TYPICAL AT DIFFERENT SPECIALISATION IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN THE LEFT BANK FOREST STEPPE OF UKRAINE

The article presents the results of long-term experimental studies on the effect of different methods of main tillage on soil fertility and crop productivity when applying different degrees of fertilization. Field research was conducted during 2013-2020 on the lands of the Poltava Research Station of the Institute of Pig Breeding and Agro-Industrial Production of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences. It has been established that the systematic use of organic and organic and-mineral fertilization systems improves the nutrient regime of typical black soil with differentiation of the arable layer by the amount of phosphorus and potassium when applying long-term minimal loosening. There is a tendency towards an increase in density in the layers of 20-40 and 40-60 cm when applying systematic shallow tillage, where this indicator exceeds the upper limit of the optimal range of 1,0-1,3 g/cm3. Application of manure and mineral fertilizers compared to surface loosening makes it possible to additionally annually sequester 0,3-0,4 t/ha of carbon, which is equivalent to 1,2-1,6 t of carbon dioxide. By the average multi-year yield of corn per silage, shallow loosening is inferior to combined tillage by an average of 10%. Tendencies to a decrease in the average long-term productivity of soybean, spring barley, and pea crops when using minimal tillage compared to the combined one are manifested only in certain fertilizer options. Under optimal conditions of heat and moisture supply, the ratio of grain and straw in soybeans decreases. On winter wheat, after peas, there is a tendency towards the preference of shallow loosening. The ratio of wheat grain to straw increases significantly under favorable conditions. Corn responds better to the combined tillage system, which prevails shallow loosening in terms of grain yield by the fertilizer options by 6-10%. Under favorable conditions, the ratio of stems to grain increases significantly, especially on fertilized grounds. From the studied crops, the productivity of sugar beets fluctuates to a greater extent to the conditions of the year, and to a lesser extent - winter wheat, grown after peas and corn for grain. By the average long-term crop productivity, shallow tillage is inferior to combined tillage by 4-8% having a confidence level of 5%. When applying manure, it is advisable to use a combined system of soil tillage, for plant-oriented agrarian production, it is economically advisable to use surface loosening for all crops.

Plant Biostimulants as an Effective Tool for Increasing Physiological Activity and Productivity of Different Sugar Beet Varieties

Drought and high temperatures are among most dangerous attributes of climate change, which negatively affects the quantity and quality of sugar beet production. One of the most effective tools for eliminating unwanted effects is the application of biostimulants during the growing season. In this study, a 4 × 3 factorial scheme was adopted: Two biostimulant treatments, namely (i) pure extract from brown seaweed Ascophylum nodosum (B1) and (ii) concentrate from the seaweed Ascophylum nodosum and humus substances (B2), were compared to a control treatment (B0) in an experiment with four sugar beet varieties (Fischer, Fabius, Nicolaus, Lucius). The two-year research proved the significant influence of biostimulants on all monitored physiological and production parameters of sugar beet, with the exception of potassium content. Biostimulants positively influenced the results of root yield, polarized and white sugar yield, and the values of LAI (leaf area index), NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index), and PRI (photochemical reflectance index), while the positive effect on sugar content was only in the case of B1 treatment. The production potential fluctuated significantly depending on the observed interaction, but it can be concluded that the most limiting factor of production is the course of weather conditions. However, after treatment with biostimulants, an increased root yield (B2) and sugar content (B1) were found. Moreover, in this experiment, a strong positive relationship between root yield and physiological parameters (NDVI and PRI) and LAI was proven, while the relationship of sugar content to these parameters was weak. Monitoring of the physiological response to biostimulant application shows a high potential from the sustainability perspective in the context of sugar beet production. In addition, the impact on the height and quality of production was evident.

Change of sugar beet technological quality and productivity as a result of vegetating plants treatment with fungicides

Studies were carried out for the purpose of determining of an effective consumption rate and application sequence of Abacus Ultra (suspension emulsion), and Pictor Active (concentrate of suspension) fungicides for sugar beet vegetating plants as well as revealing of changes in morphological and technological indexes and the crop productivity as a result of these chemicals’ combination influence. The work was conducted in a grain--arable crop rotation of Voronezh region in 2020-2021. RMS 127, a domestic sugar beet hybrid, was an object of the investigations. The experiment scheme supposed studying of the following variants including control and four schemes of plant protection from leaf diseases with the help of BASF Limited Liability Company fungicides: I) first treatment with the chemical of Abacus Ultra using the consumption rate of 1.25 l/ha and, in 20 days, second treatment with Pictor Active using the consumption rate of 0.6 l/ha; II) first treatment with Abakus Ultra (1.25 l/ha) and second treatment with Pictor Active (0.8 l/ha); III) first treatment with Pictor Active (0.6 l/ha) and second treatment with Abakus Ultra (1.25 l/ha); and IV) first treatment with Pictor Active (0.8 l/ha) and second treatment with Abakus Ultra (1.25 l/ha). Effectiveness of the sugar beet protection scheme II was ascertained. This agrotechnical method has a positive effect on physiological processes in a plant, and effectively depresses growth of fungi - powdery mildew disease agents that promotes increase of photosynthesis productivity coefficient by 41.2 %, obtaining of 8.3 t/ha yield addition, and 3.2-time reduction of beet roots with pathologies in number. Also, it increases predicted sugar output by 0.84 %, improving its extraction ability during processing at the same time, and refined sugar yield per a hectare of the crop by 24.1 %.

Current state assessment and development perspectives of the agricultural sector of Ukraine in the post-war conditions

The Ukrainian agricultural market plays an important role in the economy of our country and in general has a huge potential for further development. Ukraine’s postwar prospects in agriculture promise to be encouraging, despite some challenges and problems faced by this sector. Agriculture is an important component of the national economy of the state, and is also a source of income from exports. The peculiarity of one of the main branches of agriculture — crop production is that its production is seasonal and the circulation of advanced capital is slow. Today, the dairy industry, logistics, storage of vegetables and fruits, and increased investments in sugar beet production require the most investments in Ukraine. However, despite these problems, Ukraine’s post-war prospects in agriculture remain encouraging. The country continues to be one of the world’s largest producers of agricultural products. Ukraine has the potential to increase the volume of production and export of various types of agricultural products, such as grain, dairy products, meat, vegetables and fruits. The purpose of the article is to study the current state and directions of development of the agricultural sector of Ukraine in the conditions of the post-war state. The article emphasizes that the ukranian agriculture has its own characteristics, which will significantly affect the post-war recovery of the industry, which is primarily related to the relative immobility of resources, which is a barrier to their redistribution (except for labor resources) from agriculture to other industries.

MODELING OF WORKING BODIES FOR THE EXTRACTION OF SUGAR BEET ROOTS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE DYNAMICS OF SOIL STICKING ON THEIR SURFACE

This article is devoted to the study of the process of the formation of soil adhesion on the surface of the root crop during digging, which allows in the process of modeling and designing the surfaces of the active working organs of root harvesting machines. Analyzing scientific research on this topic, it is possible to observe little attention paid to this problem, therefore the work on this topic is quite relevant. The purpose of this work is to simulate the process of soil taring, which can lead to root crop damage and a decrease in product quality. The article provides a dynamic analysis of this process, taking into account various factors, such as moisture, stickiness and other physical and mechanical properties of the soil, digging speed, shape and geometric parameters of the root crop. The Mohr-Coulomb method was chosen as the model, which made it possible to solve certain problems of the root crop extraction process and perform simulation of soil behavior for a wide range of load systems based on parameters, agricultural soils. Determination of the main characteristics of the soil in the simulation of beet extraction was carried out for a moderately heavy loam in a wet state, for which most of the input parameters for the PLAXIS software were known. These samples were subjected to standard rapid triaxial tests at an initial stress of 3 kPa, up to σ3 200 kPa. possible methods of avoiding excessive soil sticking and increasing the efficiency of harvesting root crops are substantiated. The results of the research can be useful for agricultural enterprises and sugar beet producers to optimize the process, which will allow to improve the quality of the products. Summing up, modeling the root crop extraction process is an important tool for optimizing the parameters of the harvesting machine and reducing the energy component of the digging process. This can improve the efficiency and quality of root crop production, which is important for agricultural enterprises and root crop producers. Additional research and development in this field can contribute to the continuous improvement of the root crop extraction process, which will make it possible to take into account the obtained data when designing the working bodies of beet harvesting machines.

The impact of using the technological package on sugar beet production

The impact of using the technological package on sugar beet production

Prevalence of a 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani'-Related Strain Designated as New 16SrXII-P Subgroup over 'Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus' in Sugar Beet in Eastern Germany.

Two phloem-limited pathogens, 'Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus' and 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani', threaten sugar beet production in France, Switzerland, and Germany. Previous studies of these pathogens in Germany had focused on its western and southern regions, leaving a knowledge gap about eastern Germany. Despite their importance, this study is the first to investigate phytoplasmas in sugar beet in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. A phytoplasma strain related to 'Ca. P. solani' is found predominant in Saxony-Anhalt, unlike in France, where 'Ca. P. solani' has a minor role compared with 'Ca. A. phytopathogenicus'. The phytoplasma strain infecting sugar beet in Saxony-Anhalt was classified into a new subgroup designated as 16SrXII-P. The multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of nonribosomal genes of the novel phytoplasma strain showed that it is significantly different from the reference and all previously reported 'Ca. P. solani' strains including the strain from western Germany. Analyses of sugar beet samples from previous years confirmed the presence of the 16SrXII-P strain in sugar beet as early as 2020 and also in Bavaria in southern Germany. Based on 16S rDNA analysis, 'Ca. A. phytopathogenicus' in Saxony-Anhalt is identical to strains in sugar beet in other parts of Germany and France, as well as to a strain in potato from Germany. The presence and prevalence of two phytoplasmas in sugar beet in Germany suggest that more attention should be directed toward understanding phytoplasma infection in sugar beet in this country.

Experience in Implementing the FSTDP Subprogram “Development of Selection and Seed production of Sugar beets in the Russian Federation”

The results of the implementation of the subprogram “Development of selection and seed production of sugar beets in the Russian Federation” of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Agriculture for 20172030 (FSTDP) are presented. The authors consider the created hybrids, their yield and sugar content in different regions, the paths for improving the sugar beet seed production system and the measures of state support for the production of domestically selected seeds.

Accounting of physical qualities of root crops during sugar beet reception and storage

This article studied the quality of sugar beet roots during storage. The determining factor in the efficiency of beet sugar production is the output of sugar at a plant. Root crops are characterized by a sharp change in technological quality depending on the areas of beet seeding, agrometeorological conditions of a year, cultivation technology and storage conditions. They are easily damaged during harvesting and transportation, they are relatively poorly stored. The physical properties of root crops depend mainly on the settings of the beet harvesters, weather conditions during the harvesting period; chemical properties depend on the varietal characteristics and agricultural cultivation techniques. When growing under the same conditions, varietal characteristics play a decisive role in the yield and technological quality of root crops. Therefore it is important to use two or three hybrids when growing on the farm, which belong to different groups according to the initial technological qualities and the level of sugar loss during storage. The hybrids must provide a high sugar yield during the sugar factory operation. Therefore, it is necessary to have hybrid-specific data on sugar yield during the entire harvesting period, the date of achieving maximum sugar content, resistance to gray rot and the intensity of sugar loss during the storage. Root crops with higher sugar content lose more sugar during prolonged storage, and its yield is reduced to a greater extent. Root crops of such hybrids should not be stored, but immediately sent for processing. Studies show that in piles where raw materials with 9–10 % of mechanically damaged root crops are stored, rotting processes are activated 4.5 times, and with 17– 18 % – 10 times faster compared to undamaged ones. To reduce the damage to root crops by gray rot during storage, biocidal preparations should be used. During storage in the field in open piles for 12 days, sugar losses in root crops reach 1.7 % in September in absolute weight. Sugar losses in such conditions reach 1.3 % in September and 0.9 % in October. The increased amount of green mass reduces the technological quality of root crops. For each per cent of green mass without storage, sugar yield is reduced by 0.2 %, molasses yield and sugar losses increase due to additional non-sugars in the juice. During storage such root crops germinate quickly, which reduces sugar yield. Key words: sugar beet, root crop, root crops quality, premature seeding, gray rot, piles.

MINERAL FERTILIZERS IMPACT ON SUGAR BEET PRODUCTIVITY IN SOUTHEAST KAZAKHSTAN

Determining the influence of various levels of mineral fertilizers to obtain the optimum productivity of two sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) hybrids was the prime goal of the pertinent research. The sugar beet responsiveness’ identification and their payback by enhanced yield to increasing fertilizer rates was effective. The fertilizers’ role in managing the variations in the primary indicators of efficient soil fertility has also been evident. Regression analysis described the relationship among the fertilizer intensity, soil agrochemical indicators, and the productivity of sugar beet. It allowed, with a high degree of reliability, to predict the sugar beet yield of the two hybrids (Aksu and Yampol) at different levels of fertilizer strength. The data characterizing the state of sugar beet sowing in Kazakhstan over the past 10 years are accessible.

Estimating Chlorophyll Content, Production, and Quality of Sugar Beet under Various Nitrogen Levels Using Machine Learning Models and Novel Spectral Indices

Accurately estimating crop performance under various fertilizer levels in a rapid and non-destructive manner has become a vital aspect of precision agriculture technology for both economic and environmental benefits. This study aimed to estimate different sugar beet parameters, such as total chlorophyll (Chlt), chlorophyll a (Chla), chlorophyll b (Chlb), root yield (RY), sugar yield (SY), and sugar content (SC) under five nitrogen (N) levels (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg N ha−1). This was achieved by using a combination of the gradient boosting regression (GBR) model with published and newly developed two- and three-band spectral indices (2D- and 3D-SRIs). The results showed that the N levels had the highest proportion of variations (80.4–92.9%) for all parameters, except for SC, which had more variation (59.9%) according to year than the N levels (37.2%). All parameters, except SC, showed a significant increase with gradually increasing N levels. Additionally, the N levels displayed linear and strong positive relationships with the chlorophyll parameters, and linear and strong negative relationships with SC, while these relationships were quadratic and strong with RY and SY. Several published and novel 3D-SRIs exhibited moderate to strong relationships (R2 = 0.65–0.89) with all parameters. The newly developed 3D-SRIs, which involve wavelengths from the visible, near-infrared, and red-edge regions, such as NDI536, 538, 534, NDI738, 750, 542, and NDI448, 734, 398, were effective in accurately estimating all parameters. Combining 2D-SRIs, 3D-SRIs, and the aggregate of all spectral indices (ASRIs) with GBR models could be a robust strategy for estimating the six observed parameters with reasonable precision. The GBR-ASF-6 SRIs and the GBR-ASF-7 SRIs models performed better in predicting Chl content and SC with R2 values of 0.99 and 0.99 (RMSE = 0.073 and 1.568) for the training dataset and R2 values of 0.65 and 0.78 (RMSE = 0.354 and 6.294) for the testing datasets, respectively. The obtained results concluded that published and newly developed 3D-SRIs, GBR based on 2D-SRIs or 3D-SRIs, and the aggregate of all ASRIs can be used in practice to accurately estimate the Chl content, production, and quality of sugar beet across a wide range of N levels under semiarid conditions.

Root Causes of Flowering: Two Sides of Bolting in Sugar Beet

Sugar beet is an important root crop with a biennial life cycle. In the first year of its life cycle, it produces huge amounts of leaf and root mass used for the production of sugar and bioethanol, livestock feed, confectionery and pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, and soil restoration. Normally, after exposure to cold temperatures during winter storage, in the second year of its life cycle, it enters its reproductive phase. However, during the first year of growth, sugar beet plants may be susceptible to producing flowering shoots, or “bolting”, due to vernalization and long-day conditions. Bolting reduces both the yield and the sugar content of roots. Here, we review the published research works that study the environmental factors influencing bolting, the genetic (including epigenetic) and physiological mechanisms that regulate the transition to the reproductive phase, and the agrotechnical and breeding practices used to prevent bolting. Models of gene networks that regulate the transition to flowering are presented. Methods for selecting non-bolting plants using conventional, marker-assisted, and genomic breeding are demonstrated. Attention is also paid to the speed breeding technology that stimulates bolting and flowering sugar beet plants in an artificial climate. Growing sugar beet plants “from seed to seed” can potentially accelerate the breeding and seed production of sugar beet. This review compares different conditions for inducing bolting in sugar beet in climatic chambers and greenhouses. It examines parameters such as temperature, duration of light exposure, and light intensity during the pre-vernalization, post-vernalization, and vernalization periods. The present review may be useful for specialists in sugar beet cultivation, breeders working on developing cultivars and hybrids that are resistant to bolting, and molecular biologists studying the genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying the transition of plants into the flowering stage.

Evaluation of the effect of sugar mud and organic fertilizers on the productivity of sugar beets in the conditions of Podillia

The application of lime fertilizer “defecation” on acidic and slightly acidic soils has a multifaceted positive effect, eliminating excessive acidity, and creating optimal environmental conditions for agricultural plants and soil microorganisms, increases the water resistance of structural soil aggregates, which determines favourable water and air modes, increases the accumulation of phosphorus, potassium. The goal is to investigate the influence of sugar mud and organic fertilizers on the productivity of sugar beets in the conditions of Podillia. In the presented study was carried out using such methods as field, measuring and weighing, laboratory, statistical. According to the results of the experiment, it was determined that the productivity of sugar beets increased depending on the doses of applied fertilizers. Thus, with the application of 2.0 Hr of sugar mud, the yield increase amounted to 15.27 t/ha. The combination of organic fertilizer and sugar mud 2.0 Hr had the strongest effect on productivity – 29.41 t/ha. The collection of sugar increased according to the experimental variants mainly due to the increase in yield. The increase in digestion was insignificant: from 0.08 to 0.56% according to the experiment variants. The segment of crop production will be profitable due to the drivers of the volume of the harvested crop. The side economic effect of the application of this measure will be to obtain a larger sugar harvest per hectare, which will allow to obtain a larger profit from the processing of sugar beets into sugar. The practical value of the research lies in the formation of recommendations for farms and agricultural enterprises growing sugar beet on acidic and slightly acidic soils in order to increase its productivity

Technological adequacy of sugar beet products used in the food industry

Beet sugar production in Russia annually gives about 6 million tons of white sugar and 1.5 million tons of beet molasses, which must have technological adequacy, when used as raw materials. The purpose of the work was to substantiate the concept of technological adequacy of beet sugar production, its indicator markers and their threshold values, to assess the actual technological adequacy of white sugar and molasses, to verify the hypothesis about the relationship between individual indicators of white sugar and empirical knowledge about an increase in the content of micronutrients with a decrease in the category. The objects of the study were terminology related to the characteristics of food products and raw materials in terms of consumer expectations and indicators of their assessment. Technological adequacy was evaluated for 230 samples of white sugar and 134 samples of beet molasses. Indicator markers were determined according to standardized and known methods. Technological adequacy of white sugar and beet molasses is the compliance of their specific functional properties with the requirements of the production of a particular food product, in which they are raw ingredients. A measure of compliance is indicator markers in the form of physicochemical parameters of the composition. Indicators of white sugar for three food technologies and indicators of beet molasses for two technologies and storage were substantiated; their technological adequacy was assessed. Empirical knowledge about an increase in the content of micronutrients with a decrease in the category and the hypothesis about the relationship between individual indicators of white sugar were confirmed. It is shown that all white sugar of extra and TC1 categories has technological adequacy for the use in food production, while only 62% of TC2 sugar and some batches of beet molasses have the necessary technological suitability. The results obtained will be a tool for regulating the production of competitive products and developing a control scheme for the technological flow of sugar production.

AMMI Analysis of Genotype × Environment Interaction on Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Yield, Sugar Content and Production in Romania

The overall yield and sugar content of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) were determined by the genotype and its interaction with the environment. This study aimed to analyze the interaction of 23 genotypes with different environmental conditions during two growing seasons. To estimate the variance of genotypes, environment, and genotype function of the environment, the R 3.5.1 software package was used. In addition, the multivariate stability method was used to explain the G (genotype) × E (environment) interaction based on the GGE (Genotype plus Genotype-by-Environment) and AMMI (additive main effects and multiplicative interaction) biplots. The AMMI ASV (AMMI stability value) and biplot analysis revealed that only two genotypes (G10 and G11) showed higher values for yield and sugar content and production compared to the other genotypes. The AMMI ASV analysis also showed that the environment significantly influenced the sugar beet yield, sugar content, and sugar production, which were the descriptors for production in this study.

Green waste-derived compost (GWC) alleviates drought stress and promotes sugar beet productivity and biofortification

ABSTRACT Green waste-derived compost (GWC) is a valuable soil amendment for improving soil organic matter and decreasing waste products and potential pollutants. The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of GWC application on the yield and quality of sugar beet under deficit irrigation conditions using different irrigation systems. A field experiment was conducted using the commercial sugar beet variety Gazelle in sandy soil. Two doses (0 and 14 t ha−1) of GWC were applied to the soil. Three water deficiency levels (60, 80 and 100% of the soil field capacity) under either drip and sprinkler irrigation systems were applied. The application of 14 ton ha−1 of GWC resulted in the highest root and recoverable sugar yields, especially under the well-irrigated conditions under drip irrigation. Sugar beet root biofortification and juice quality were also significantly improved under drip irrigation in response to the application of 14 ton ha−1 of GWC by increasing sucrose content, quality index (Qz)% and recoverable sugar (RS)%. The application of GWC under drip irrigation enhanced water use efficiency for root (WUERY) and recoverable sugar yields (WUERSY), in particular under drip irrigation and water deficit conditions (60% of the soil field capacity). The soil physicochemical properties were significantly improved in response to the application of GWC. GWC application promoted the yield and biofortification of sugar beet by improving the soil physiochemical properties, and nutrient mobilization and uptake. The application of GWC is essential for sustainable sugar beet production and efficient irrigation water use in sandy soils.

Sugar market in the Republic of Kazakhstan: priorities, optimality criteria

Relevance – one of the main directions of sustainable growth of economy of Kazakhstan is providing the country's population with affordable and high-quality food products. The goal is to show the current situation, the problems of the food market in the republic, in particular sugar industry, products of which are a component of the consumer basket. Methods – statistical and analytical research techniques, studying the works of agricultural economists on the problems of development of agro-industrial complex. Results – the study analyzed the dynamics of changes in the main indicators affecting the volume of sugar beet production, and presented its sown area for 2017-2022. The factors influencing the gross harvest of this crop and the level of sugar production have been identified. Measures have been proposed to improve the situation on the food market and accelerate the development of sugar subcomplex: expansion of sown areas in beetgrowing regions, including sulfur; increasing productivity through the use of high-quality seeds and moisture-saving technologies; strengthening the raw material base; attracting investment in sugar sector; state support in the form of subsidies and preferential loans to agricultural producers; modernization of material and technical resources of sugar factories, in particular irrigation systems, introduction of modern innovative technological schemes for breeding work and seed production. Conclusions – sugar industry, especially its beet component, requires close attention from the perspective of strategic management, improvement and increasing the stability of its functioning. To stabilize and protect the domestic market, it is necessary to study the issues of establishing a minimum level of prices for the import of white sugar and low retail (marginal) prices. Recommendations for expanding the cultivation of sugar beets will help reduce import dependence and saturate the domestic market.

Beet pulp of sugar production and prospects for its use

Due to the latest scientific achievements new opportunities have appeared for deeper processing of not only raw materials, but also by-products of the country's agro-industrial complex. Beet sugar production is a source of a number of by-products such as beet pulp, molasses and filter cake. Domestic sugar production refers to material-intensive industries, since the volume of vegetable raw materials, as well as by-products formed in the technological process, is several times higher than the yield of finished products – white sugar. Insufficient attention to the problems of more complete processing of by-products of sugar beet production may be the cause of environmental degradation. Currently, not only the regulatory documentation regulating the quality indicators of raw materials used and finished products of the industry has been updated, but also the definition of by-products of sugar production, formed in the production of white sugar, has been clarified. In particular, by-products of the sugar beet industry can be used to extract useful components from them, suitable for the production of new food products with increased nutritional value. The main attention in the paper is paid to promising areas for the use of beet pulp for the production of new types of food products. A method has been developed for the production of sugar syrup enriched with pectin extract of beet pulp. The addition of beet pulp pectin extract to the syrup not only increases the nutritional value, but also improves its technological properties while expanding the range of new types of food products and their properties.

Sugar Beet Rooting Pattern Mediates Stomatal and Transpiration Responses to Progressive Water Stress

Water stress is the main risk facing sugar beet production in Europe and is expected to worsen with climate change. Therefore, future production essentially depends on the traits that sustain growth during water shortages. In this study, we investigated the interplay of stomatal conductance and transpiration rate as well as the root characteristics of six sugar beet cultivars in a climate chamber experiment under environmental conditions progressing from a non-stressed initial state toward high atmospheric water demand, followed by reduced soil water supply and then by a combination of high demand and low supply. Stomatal conductance quickly responded to changing conditions, dropping from 406.4 to 42.5 mmol m−2 s−1, one order of magnitude, with the transition to reduced soil water availability. The transpiration rate showed a slightly delayed response compared with stomatal conductance, while we observed an inverse influence on the subsequent stomatal behavior exerted by the depletion/conservation of available soil water. The rooting pattern substantially differed among genotypes, predominantly at depths between 60 and 80 cm, where 50.5% of the root length was allocated. Longer roots buffered the effects of the reduction in stomatal conductance at the onset of water supply limitation, with 5.4 mmol m−2 s−1 higher conductance per 100 cm of root length. Therefore, breeding and/or management measures targeting root system vigor are the key to the growth maintenance of sugar beet during dry periods.

Effect of Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria in Combination with Poultry Manure on Soil Health and Sugarbeet Productivity under Arid Climate

Sustainable agricultural productivity is under threat due to lack of interest in the use of bio-organic fertilizers to alleviate drawbacks of conventional agricultural practices. Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria plays vital role in improving phosphorus availability to plants through slowly release from inorganic and organic soil phosphorus budgets by solubilization and mineralization. Furthermore, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria in combination with poultry manure has great potential to improve phosphorus uptake, growth and development of the plants. Firstly, a pot experiment consisted of seven strains of phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) with one control (un-inoculated) were used using completely randomized design (CRD) for 55 days screening trial to screen out the efficient phosphorus solubilizing bacterial strains. Secondly, a field experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) at Research Farm of College of Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Bahadur Sub Campus Layyah, South Punjab-Pakistan during 2019-2020 to explore the effect of screened efficient phosphorus solubilizing bacterial strains; PSB0=No inoculation; PSB2=Bacillus spp. PSB2, PSB3=Bacillus spp. PSB3, PSB5=Bacillus spp. PSB5, PSB6=Bacillus spp. PSB6 in combination with poultry manure; PM0= without poultry manure and PM1= with poultry manure (20 t ha-1) on growth and yield traits of sugarbeet, and rhizosphere soil health indicators. Results regarding pot experiment showed that phosphorus solubilizing bacterial strains PSB2, PSB3, PSB5 and PSB6 had great potential to improve growth traits of sugarbeet crop and screened as efficient phosphorus solubilizing bacterial strains. Results of field experiment revealed that the combined application of efficient phosphorus solubilizing bacterial strains (PSB2 and PSB5) with poultry manure (20 t ha-1) produced the highest growth, and yield traits of sugarbeet crop, and rhizosphere soil health indicators.Our findings suggest that the combined application of efficient phosphorus solubilizing bacterial strains (PSB2 and PSB5) with poultry manure (20 t ha-1) is a promising and viable option to achieve the maximum sugarbeet productivity under changing environmental scenarios.