Sugar Beet Production Research Articles

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.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of putative effectors in Heterodera schachtii that suppress plant immune response 1

The sugar beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii) is one of the most destructive pathogens in sugar beet production, which causes serious economic losses every year. Few molecular details of effectors of H. schachtii parasitism are known. We analyzed the genome and transcriptome data of H. schachtii and identified multiple potential predicted proteins. After filtering out predicted proteins with high homology to other plant-parasitic nematodes, we performed functional validation of the remaining effector proteins. 37 putative effectors of H. schachtii were screened based on the Nicotiana benthamiana system for identifying the effectors that inhibit plant immune response, eventually determines 13 candidate effectors could inhibit cell death caused by Bax. Among the 13 effectors, nine have the ability to inhibit GPA2/RBP1-induced cell death. All 13 effector-triggered immunity (ETI) suppressor genes were analyzed by qRT-PCR and confirmed to result in a significant downregulation of one or more defense genes during infection compared to empty vector. For in situ hybridization, 13 effectors were specifically expressed and located in esophageal gland cells. These data and functional analysis set the stage for further studies on the interaction of H. schachtii with host and H. schachtii parasitic control.

Resistance to QoI and DMI Fungicides do not Reduce Virulence of C. beticola Isolates in North Central USA.

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) is a destructive disease limiting sugar beet production and managed using resistant cultivars, crop rotation, and timely applications of effective fungicides. Since 2016, its causal agent, Cercospora beticola, has been reported to be resistant to Quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs) and to have reduced sensitive to Demethylation inhibitors (DMIs) in sugar beet growing areas in North Dakota and Minnesota. Isolates of C. beticola resistant to QoIs, DMIs, and both QoIs and DMIs were collected from Foxhome fields, Minnesota in 2017. Fitness of these resistant isolates was compared to that of QoI- and DMI-sensitive isolates in laboratory and greenhouse studies. In the lab, mycelial growth, spore production, and spore germination were measured. The results showed that resistant isolates had significantly less mycelial growth and spore production than sensitive isolates, while no significant difference in spore germination was detected. In the greenhouse, six leaf-stage sugar beets were inoculated with a spore suspension made from each resistant group and then incubated in separate humidity chambers. CLS disease severity was evaluated visually at 7, 14, and 21 days after inoculation (DAI) and the areas under disease progress curve (AUDPC) were calculated. Resistant isolates had significantly smaller AUDPC but still caused high disease severity as the sensitive ones at 21 DAI. Although QoI and/or DMI resistant isolates had a relatively slower disease development, they still caused high disease severity and need to be factored in disease management practices.

Estimation of Sugar Beet Production in Muş Province through Exponential Smoothing Method

Muş ilinde nüfusun yaklaşık %60'ı kırsal kesimde yaşamakta olup ekonomik faaliyetleri tarım ve hayvancılığa dayanmaktadır. Tarımsal faaliyetlerden biri olan şeker pancarı Muş ili ve çevresi için büyük önem arz etmektedir. Muş ili şeker pancarı üretiminde Doğu Anadolu Bölgesinde önemli paya sahip ilk 10 ilden biri olmasının yanı sıra TRB2 Bölgesinde en fazla üretime sahip ildir. İlde şeker pancarının tarımsal bir ürün olmasının yanında işlenip sanayide ve hayvancılıkta ara malı olarak kullanılması, istihdamı arttırması, göçü engellemesi, toprak verimini arttırarak tarımsal üretimde sürdürülebilirliği sağlaması gibi nedenler şeker pancarına olan talebi arttırmıştır. Artan talebi karşılamak ve yeni politikalar geliştirmek için şeker pancarı üretiminin gelecekte nasıl bir seyir izleyeceği bölge için büyük önem taşımaktadır. Çalışmanın amacı 1982-2021 dönemi verilenden hareketle Muş ilinde şeker pancarı üretiminin gelecek beş yıldaki seyrini Box-Jenkins (ARMA) modeli ile tahmin etmektir. Yapılan analizler sonucunda şeker pancarı üretiminin 2022-2026 döneminde azalacağı öngörülmüştür. Bu kapsamda şeker pancarı üretiminin arttırılmasına yönelik politikalar üzerinde durulmuş ve öneriler sunulmuştur.

Sugar Beet Productivity Response to Intercropping System and Nitrogen Fertilizer

A field trials was carried out at Shandaweel Research Station, Sohag Governorate, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons to study the influence of intercropping sugar beet with fahl berseem using three different nitrogen fertilization rates on yield, its components, and economic returns. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design using a split-plot arrangement of three replicates. Three nitrogen fertilizer levels (165, 190, and 215 kg N/ha) were assigned to the main plots. while the sub-plots were allocated to five intercropping systems 100% sugar beet + three seeding rates of fahl berseem (15, 25, and 35% of its recommended rate of 48 kg/ha), sole sugar beet, and sole fahl berseem. The results revealed that most of the values of sugar beet traits significantly (P<0.05) decreased by increasing the percentage of fahl berseem seeding rates. whereas, a reverse trend was found in increasing nitrogen fertilizer levels. All traits of fahl berseem significantly (P<0.05) increased by increasing the percentage of fahl berseem seeding rates when intercropped with sugar beet and increasing nitrogen fertilizer level. The intercropping system IS3 (100% sugar beet + 35% fahl berseem) and fertilized plants with 165 kg N/ha recorded the highest land equivalent ratio (1.30). On the other hand, the intercropping systems IS1 (100% sugar beet + 15% fahl berseem) and 165 kg N/ha recorded the lowest land equivalent ratio (1.20). Fahl berseem was the dominant crop, whereas sugar beet was the dominated. The highest gross returns (3398 US$/ha) resulted from intercropping system IS3 (100% sugar beet + 35% fahl berseem) and 215 Kg N/ha. The lowest gross returns (2953 US$/ha) were obtained from intercropping systems IS1 (100% sugar beet + 15% fahl berseem) with 165 kg N/ha as average in both seasons. Hence it, to achieve higher gross returns preferred use intercropping system of 35% fahl berseem and 100% sugar beet with application of 215 Kg N/ha.

Вплив удобрення на використання вологи ґрунту та продуктивність буряків цукрових у короткоротаційних сівозмінах

Вплив удобрення на використання вологи ґрунту та продуктивність буряків цукрових у короткоротаційних сівозмінах

Influence of compost type, nitrogen fertilizer level and micronutrients on growth, productivity and quality of sugar beet cultivated in sandy soil

Influence of compost type, nitrogen fertilizer level and micronutrients on growth, productivity and quality of sugar beet cultivated in sandy soil

Разработка рецептуры и технологии получения кормовой добавки в комбикорма для дойных коров на основе побочных продуктов свёклосахарного и крахмалопаточного производства

Исследования были проведены в экспериментальном комбикормовом цехе ТОО «Казахский научно-исследовательский институт пищевой и перерабатывающей промышленности». Целью исследований была разработка рецептур и технологии получения кормовых добавок для сельскохозяйственных животных с использованием препарата «Биоконс» и побочных продуктов свёклосахарного и крахмалопаточного производства. Препарат-пробиотик «Биоконс» представляет собой микробную массу активных молочнокислых бактерий, которые обладают высокими антагонистическими свойствами в отношении условно-патогенной микрофлоры. Препарат обладает широким спектром антибактериального действия в отношении B. subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphulococcus aureus, Salmonella reading, Salmonella tuphimurium и может быть использован в качестве лечебного и профилактического средства при кормлении молодняка сельскохозяйственных животных. Разработана принципиальная технологическая схема производства кормовой добавки для крупного рогатого скота (для дойных коров). Для кормовой добавки отработаны технологические режимы её производства: дозирование, перемешивание, измельчение, увлажнение, гранулирование, охлаждение. Для приготовления высокоэнергетической кормовой добавки брали следующие компоненты: отруби пшеничные (58–61%), кукурузный корм (8%), сухой свекловичный жом (15%), цеолит кормовой (5%), соль поваренная (2%), премикс (1%). Компоненты смешивали и измельчали до 0,2 мм, вводили патоку кормовую (5–8%), пробиотический препарат «Биоконс» (0,1%), доводили влажность до 37% с учётом первоначальной влажности используемого сырья и подвергали прессованию. Гранулы кормовой добавки получали на пресс-грануляторе путём продавливания увлажнённой смеси через фильеры определённого размера. На выходе из прессующей камеры масса нарезалась ножом на гранулы требуемой длины. Горячие гранулы высушивались до 8,0–10% влажности и охлаждались в охладителе. Для определения возможности использования кормовой добавки в составе комбикормов для дойных коров был изучен химический состав и определено содержание кормовых единиц. Включение кормовой добавки в количества 20 и 25% по массе в состав комбикормов увеличивало усвояемость кормов, способствовало повышению молочной продуктивности на 6,2–7,2%. This research was conducted at the Feed-Stuff Research Unit of the Kazakh Research Institute of Processing and Food Industry. The aim of this experiment was designing the recipe and technology for the production of the feed additives for livestock based on the “Biokons” preparation and byproducts from beet sugar and starch production. “Biokons” is the preparation consisting of active lactic acid bacteria with high antagonistic properties against opportunistic microflora. “Biokons” is effective against B. subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphulococcus aureus, Salmonella reading, Salmonella tuphimurium. It can be used in the feeding of young animals for medicinal and preventive purposes. The process flow was designed for the production of the feed additive for cattle (dairy cows). Such process flow patterns were tested as dosing, mixing, grinding, moisturizing, granulating, and cooling. The ingredients for the high-energy feed additive were wheat bran (58–61%), maize feed (8%), dry beet pulp (15%), feed zeolite (5%), table salt (2%), premix (1%). All the ingredients were mixed and ground to 0.2 mm, then feed molasses (5–8%) and “Biokons” (0.1%) were added. After the water content reached 37% the mixture was pressed. The granules were obtained using a granulator press by forcing the moistened mixture through the dies of a certain size. Exiting the pressing chamber, the mass was cut by a knife into granules of the required length. Hot granules were dried till moisture content reached 8.0–10% and cooled in a cooler. Chemical composition and the concentration of feed units were tested to ensure the adequacy of the additive as a feed-stuff component in cow feeding. The introduction of 20 and 25% of the additive into the cow diet improved fodder digestibility as well as milk productivity by 6.2–7.2%.

First report of Pepper yellow dwarf strain of Beet curly top virus and Spinach curly top Arizona virus in red table beet in Idaho, United States.

In the fall 2021, red table beet plants (Beta vulgaris L. cv 'Eagle') exhibiting stunted growth with shorter petioles were observed at an incidence of 10 to 15 percent in a production field in Payette County, Idaho, United States. In addition to stunting, beet leaves displayed yellowing and mild curling and crumpling, and the roots exhibited hairy root symptoms (sFig.1). To identify potential causal viruses, total RNA was isolated from the leaf and root tissue using RNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA) and subjected to high-throughput sequencing (HTS). Two libraries were prepared, one for the leaf sample and another for the root sample using a ribo-minus TruSeq Stranded Total RNA Library Prep kit (Illumina, San Diego, CA). HTS was performed with 150 bp paired-end sequencing on a NovaSeq 6000 (Novogene, Sacramento, CA). Following adapter trimming and removal of host transcripts, 5.9 and 16.2 million reads were obtained from the leaf and root samples, respectively. These reads were de novo assembled using the SPAdes assembler (Bankevitch et al., 2012; Prjibelski et al., 2020). The assembled leaf sample contigs were aligned to the NCBI non-redundant database to identify contigs matching known viruses. A single contig of 2845 nts that shared 96% coverage and 95.6% sequence identity to the pepper yellow dwarf strain of beet curly top virus (BCTV-PeYD, EU921828; Varsani et al., 2014), and 98% coverage and 98.39% identity with an isolate of BCTV-PeYD (KX529650) from Mexico, was identified in the leaf sample (GenBank Accession OP477336). To validate the HTS detection of BCTV-PeYD, total DNA was isolated from the leaf sample and a 454 bp fragment of the C1 gene (replication-associate protein) was PCR amplified and Sanger sequencing of the amplicon revealed 99.7% identity to the HTS assembled BCTV-PeYD sequence. In addition to the PeYD strain of BCTV, the Worland strain of BCTV (BCTV-Wor) was detected as a single 2930 nt contig with 100% coverage and 97.3% identity to the BCTV-Wor isolate CTS14-015 (KX867045) known to infect sugar beet in Idaho. Of note, there are 11 strains of BCTV and among those, the BCTV-Wor strain induces mild symptoms in sugar beet (Strausbaugh et al., 2017), whereas BCTV-PeYD was found only in pepper from New Mexico. Further, two contigs of 2201 nts and 523 nts were assembled generating a nearly complete genome of spinach curly top Arizona virus (SpCTAV) in the leaf sample with 99% coverage and 99.3% identity (GenBank Accession OQ703946) to the reference genome of SpCTAV (HQ443515; Hernandez-Zepeda et al., 2013). To validate the HTS results, total DNA was isolated from the leaf tissue and PCR amplified a 442 bp fragment that overlaps the V1, V2, and V3 ORFs and its sequence revealed 100% identity with the HTS assembled SpCTAV. The roots sample also showed HTS reads corresponding to BCTV-PeYD and SpCTAV. In addition, beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) was detected in the root sample with 30% coverage, but no sequence reads matching to BNYVV was detected in the leaf sample. BNYVV is known to infect sugar beet causing rhizomania (Tamada et al., 1973; Schirmer et al., 2005). To further confirm the BNYVV HTS results, total RNA was extracted separately from the root and leaf tissue, and RT-PCR was performed with primers that were designed to amplify portions of BNYVV RNAs (Weiland et al., 2020). RT-PCR analysis generated the appropriate amplicons with expected sequences corresponding to the RNA-1, RNA-2, RNA-3, and RNA-4 of BNYVV as determined by Sanger sequencing implying BNYVV the causal agent of hairy root symptoms. Similar to observations seen for BNYVV infection in conventional sugar beet varieties, no amplification was detected for BNYVV in the RNA extracted from leaf tissue, indicating that the RT-PCR results are consistent with the HTS analysis. This is the first report of BCTV-PeYD and SpCTAV observed naturally infecting red table beet in Idaho suggesting the geographical expansion of these viruses. The co-existence of BCTV-PeYD and SpCTAV with limited host range needs to be investigated to determine the actual cause of the observed foliar symptoms. This report provides the basis for further research to understand the pathogenic nature of these viruses and their potential threat to red table beet and sugar beet production in Idaho.

Predicting the seasonal flight activity of Myzus persicae, the main aphid vector of Virus Yellows in sugar beet.

Virus Yellows (VY), a disease caused by several aphid-borne viruses, is a major threat to the global sugar beet production. Following the ban of neonicotinoid-based seed treatments against aphids in Europe, increased efforts are needed to monitor and forecast aphid population spread during the sugar beet growing season. In particular, predicting aphid flight seasonal activity could allow anticipation of the timing and intensity of crop colonisation and contribute to the proper implementation of management methods. Forecasts should be made early enough to assess risk, but can be updated as the season progresses to refine management. Based on a long-term suction-trap dataset gathered between 1978 and 2014, we built and evaluated a set of models to predict the flight activity features of the main VY vector, Myzus persicae, at any location in the French sugar beet production area (c. 4 × 105 ha). Flight onset dates, length of flight period and cumulative abundance of flying aphids were predicted using climatic and land-use predictors as well as geographical position. Our predictions outperformed current models published in the literature. The importance of the predictor variables varied according to the predicted flight feature but winter and early spring temperature always played a major role. Forecasts based on temperature were made more accurate by adding predictors related to aphid winter reservoirs. In addition, updating the model parameters to take advantage of new weather data acquired during the season improved the flight forecast. Our models can be used as a tool for the mitigation in sugar beet crops. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Fourier Transform Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-MIR) as a Method of Identifying Contaminants in Sugar Beet Production Process-Case Studies.

Food safety has received considerable attention in recent years. Methods for rapid identification of a variety contaminants in both the final product and the manufacturing process are constantly developing. This study used Fourier Transform Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-MIR) spectroscopy to identify various contaminants endangering white sugar production. It was demonstrated that inorganic compounds (calcium carbonate-CaCO3), plastic contaminants (polypropylene), and oily contaminants (compressor sealing and lubrication lubricant) can be identified with a high degree of precision. FT-MIR spectroscopy was proved to be a useful technique for detecting sugar contaminants rapidly and precisely even without the application of a sophisticated spectra analysis. Commercial databases of reference spectra usage significantly simplify and facilitate the application of this method.

Prediction of sugar beet yield and quality parameters with varying nitrogen fertilization using ensemble decision trees and artificial neural networks

Nitrogen fertilization has a crucial role in sugar beet production, especially concerning root yield and quality. This study employed a machine learning approach to predict root yield and quality parameters based on the nutrient status of sugar beet leaves in relation to nitrogen fertilization. The field experiment included the following N fertilization treatments for sugar beet production: control (N0), presowing (N1 = 45 kg N ha−1) and presowing with top-dressing (N2 = 99 and 154.5 kg ha−1). Leaf samples were collected during the vegetation period in six intervals (May-Sept) to determine the levels of N, K and Na in the leaf dry matter. The machine learning regression based on ensemble decision trees and artificial neural network was used to determine the relationship of leaf samples based on varying N fertilization with yield parameters. Among the leaf elements analyzed, Na exhibited the highest average relative variable importance for root yield, sucrose content, and other quality parameters during the season with greater precipitation. In the season with less precipitation, N content at the beginning of July showed higher importance on root yield (74.6). The evaluated machine learning methods consistently achieved high accuracy across various combinations of input data and yield parameters, with a median R2 of 0.927 and a range from 0.842 to 0.998.

Analysis of N6-methyladenosine reveals a new important mechanism regulating the salt tolerance of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris)

Salinity is an important environmental factor in crop growth and development. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an essential epigenetic modification that regulates plant-environment interaction. Sugar beet is a major sugar-yielding crop that has a certain tolerance to salt, but the dynamic response elicited by the m6A modification of transcripts under salt stress remains unknown. In this study, sugar beet was exposed to 300 mM NaCl to investigate its physiological response to high salinity and transcriptome-wide m6A modification profile. After the salt treatment, 7737 significantly modified m6A sites and 4981 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Among the 312 m6A-modified DEGs, 113 hypomethylated DEGs were up-regulated and 99 hypermethylated DEGs were down-regulated, indicating a negative correlation between m6A modification and gene expression. Well-known salt tolerance genes (e.g., sodium/hydrogen exchanger 1, choline monooxygenase, and nucleoredoxin 2) and phospholipid signaling pathway genes (phosphoinositol-specific phospholipase C, phospholipase D, diacylglycerol kinase 1, etc.) were also among the m6A-modified genes. Further analysis showed that m6A modification may regulate salt-tolerant related gene expression by controlling mRNA stability. Therefore, changes in m6A modification may negatively regulate the expression of the salt-resistant genes in sugar beet, at least in part by modulating the stability of the mRNA via demethylase BvAlkbh10B. These findings could provide a better understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms of salt tolerance in sugar beets and uncover new candidate genes for improving the production of sugar beets planted in high-salinity soil.

Economics of Sugar Beet Production in Minia Governorate

Economics of Sugar Beet Production in Minia Governorate

Analysis of The Factors Affecting Producers' Crop Rotation Practices for Sustainable Sugar Beet Production

Amaç: Şeker pancarı üretimi; ekonomik, sosyal, politik ve çevresel etkileri açısından tartışılan bir üründür. Üretim, üreticilerle her yıl yapılan sözleşme çerçevesinde münavebeli tarım şeklinde yapılmaktadır. Bu uygulama ile toprak verimliliği korunarak tarımsal üretimde sürdürülebilirliğe katkı sağlamak amaçlanmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Türkiye’de şeker pancarı üretiminde önemli bir yere sahip olan Kayseri ilinin Yeşilhisar ilçesinde şeker pancarı üreticilerinin sosyo-demografik ve teknik özelliklerinin ortaya konulması ve üreticilerin münavebe yapma durumunu etkileyen faktörlerin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır.
 Materyal ve Yöntem: Amaçlara uygun olarak çalışmada, tanımlayıcı istatistikler ve Binary Logit Modeli kullanılmıştır.
 Araştırma Bulguları: Araştırma alanında üreticilerin %68.3’ünün münavebe yaptığı ve bu münavebe süresinin ortalama 2.73 yıl olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bazı değişkenlerin münavebe yapma durumuna etkisi incelendiğinde; yaş, arazi genişliği, tarımsal yayım faaliyetlerine katılım, toprak analizi yapma ve organik gübre kullanımının münavebe yapma üzerinde etkisinin olduğu saptanmış, ancak şeker pancarı üretim deneyimi ve eğitim düzeyi ile münavebe yapma durumu arasında herhangi bir ilişki tespit edilmemiştir.
 Sonuç: Şeker pancarı üretiminde toprak verimliliğin korunması, hastalık ve zararlıların olumsuz etkisinin azaltılması, çevre ve toprak kirliliğinin önlenmesi, topraktaki besin maddelerinden daha iyi faydalanılması, elde edilen ürünlerin verim ve kalitesinin artırılması için münavebe uygulamalarına daha çok önem verilmelidir. Bu konuda üreticilerin farkındalığını artıracak tarımsal yayım ve eğitim çalışmaları daha çok yapılmalı ve sürdürebilir tarım teknikleri uygulamalarını teşvik edici tarım çevre politikaları tasarlanmalıdır.

Tillage system and cover crop effects on organic carbon and available nutrient contents in light chestnut soil

Optimal use of management systems including tillage and cover crops are recommended to improve available nutrient contents in soils and sustain agricultural production. The effects on organic carbon and available nutrient contents of three tillage methods (conventional tillage, minimum tillage and no-tillage) and different cover crops such as flaxseed oil, buckwheat, soybean, pea, corn, sorghum, spring oilseed rape and sugar beet were evaluated in a short-term experiment on a light chestnut soil in Kazakhstan. Organic carbon and available nutrient contents were measured in the autumn of 2021. The field measurements included the yield of cover crops and input of organic matter into soils with root and other residues of cover crops. In the laboratory, total organic carbon, labile organic carbon, easily hydrolyzable nitrogen (NH4-N), NO3-N, available P and exchangeable K were measured. The results showed that one season of cover crop growth was not enough to find detectable changes in soil organic matter and available nutrient status in light chestnut soils. On the other hand, even in a short-term field experiment period of 3 months, the most labile organic carbon in soil organic carbon was obtained in conventional tillage. Overall, the results show that at least in the short term and under lower drip irrigation rate in summer for the study area, reduced tillage methods (no-tillage and minimum tillage) is suitable in the study area for soybean, corn and sugar beet production after intensive tillage in the previous year.

Zinc amendment increases the yield and industrial quality of Beta vulgaris L. cultivated in Northeast China

The sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a major industrial crop in Northeast China, but long-term or recurrent cultivation practices with low zinc (Zn) inputs have resulted in a decline in its cumulative yield and industrial quality. Hence, Zn fertilization is gaining interest in the commercial production of sugar beets; however, the efficacy and mechanism of Zn in enhancing the yield and industrial quality of sugar beets remain underexplored. A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020) in black and albic soils of Northeast China with three levels of Zn fertilizer (0 kg ha−1, 30 kg ha−1, and 60 kg ha−1) using sugar beet cv. KWS1176. The application of Zn improved the photosynthetic performance and biomass of sugar beets and promoted the accumulation of dry matter in the roots. Zinc fertilization remarkably increased the sugar beet root yield in black and albic soils by 14.50% and 5.75%, respectively. Furthermore, the K and Na contents decreased in sugar beet roots cultivated in both soil types by augmenting Zn, whereas the sugar content increased significantly. The application of Zn considerably increased the biological sugar and white sugar yield by 15.25%, and 16.71% on average in black soil and 6.75% and 5.90% in albic soil, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that the root and white sugar yields were closely related to Zn accumulation in sugar beet roots. The amendment of cultivable lands with Zn fertilizer, preferably at a rate of 30 kg ha−1, is an effective strategy to simultaneously improve the root yield and quality of sugar beets, with better efficacy in black soils than in albic soils. Our findings provide a scientific basis for nutrient management in sugar beet planting and a step forward toward the sustainable development of the sugar industry.

Investigation of yield and quality parameters of some sugar beet varieties in Muş ecological conditions

In plant production, determining the suitable varieties suitable for the location and choosing the varieties with the best performance are among the top priorities. Biplot analysis has become widespread in recent years as an important statistical technique for plant breeders and those working in agricultural research. This study was carried out according to Randomized Complete Block Design with 18 upcountry and 2 abroad registered varieties in Muş location in 2022 year. Yield and quality components were investigated. According to the results of variance analysis, it was determined that there were statistically significant differences at the level of 1% among the varieties in terms of all the traits examined. According to the average data obtained in the study; bifurcation varied between (%) 5.4-17.8, leaf yield 13.54-24.28 t ha-1, root yield 73.42-93.57 t ha-1, biological yield 90.29-118.26 t ha-1, sugar content (%) 16.2-19.0, plant juice purity 82.39- 88.10%, dry matter (%) 16.4-20.1, α-amino N (mg 100g-1) 0.0405-0.0498 and ash (%) varied between 2.49-3.35. According to the results of the research, in terms of root yield, G10 no and G14 no varieties came to the fore in terms of the most stable and examined traits. G12 no variety came to the fore in terms of sugar yield and G19 no variety in terms of sugar content. When the average data of all examined traits are evaluated together, G10, G11 and G14 no varieties are considered as the most stable varieties. However, varieties with high root yield, sugar content and sugar yield are the primary preferences of growers in sugar beet production. When all the data of the varieties used in the research are evaluated together; G2, G4, G8, G10, G11, G12, G14, G15 and G19 no varieties can be recommended for Muş ecological conditions. However, it was concluded that the study should be carried out in the following years for more decisive recommendations.

Sodium substitutes potassium requirements of sugar beet under saline–sodic conditions

AbstractBackgroundPotassium (K) substitution by sodium (Na) in sugar beet nutrition has been investigated during the last two decades and promising results have been revealed. However, substitution is still not used in agriculture although it has been recommended that Na can replace K to a large degree, proposing an interesting fertilization strategy for such plants. This study investigates the feasibility of sugar beet production on saline–sodic soils considering Na as a substituent for K.AimsThe aim of this study is to develop a fertilizer strategy considering Na concentration in saline–sodic soils as a partial substituent to K fertilizer and to determine the level of substitution.MethodsTwo saline–sodic soils (SAR15 and SAR19 representing sodium adsorption ratios 15 and 19 [mmol L–1]1/2, respectively) with low plant‐available K were selected to investigate the substitution of K fertilizer requirements with indigenous soil Na. A pot experiment was conducted with 20 kg soil per pot having four treatments, that is, KA: recommended K; KB: recommended K–K equivalent to 2.5% of soil Na; KC: recommended K–K equivalent to 5% of soil Na; and control without K fertilizer application were established mixing potassium sulfate (K2SO4) in the soil at the time of sugar beet sowing. The sugar beet plants were harvested 90 days after sowing.ResultsThe results revealed that total plant biomass was significantly improved in KB as compared to KA. This indicates that K requirement of sugar beet was substituted by Na, and KB provided optimum results on SAR15 as compared SAR19 considering all other K combinations.ConclusionIn sugar beet nutrition, K can be replaced by Na to a large degree on saline–sodic soils under K‐deficient conditions. Therefore, sugar beet production on marginal saline–sodic soil can be a win–win strategy boosting sugar beet production and reducing input cost.

Productivity of sugar beet under alternative organic-mineral fertilization

Aim. Investigate the effect of doses and methods of applying nitrogen fertilizers, the use of micronutrients fertilizers on the productivity of sugar beet under an alternative organic-mineral fertilization system. Methods. Short-term field and analytical. Results. The results of research on the influence of nitrogen nutrition and micronutrients fertilizers on the productivity of sugar beet under alternative organic-mineral fertilization are presented. It was determined that the spring application of nitrogen fertilizers and foliar feeding with microfertilizers under plowing winter wheat straw into the soil increased the yield of roots - by 22.5−23.7 t/ha, stabilized sugar content at the level of 18.2−18.3% and ensured maximum sugar yield – 12.0−12.3 t/ha. Conclusions. It was found that in conditions of sufficient moisture on leached chernozem, the use of alternative organic-mineral fertilization systems increased sugar yield compared to the control without fertilizers by 3.1−4.4 t/ha. The application of nitrogen fertilizers in the fall under deep plowing against the background of alternative fertilization is determined to be less effective than their application in the spring under pre-sowing cultivation. Applying 5 t/ha of straw + N90P90K130 under plowing ensured the yield of roots – 60.4 t/ha, sugar yield – 11.0 t/ha, while 5 t/ha of straw + P90K130 under plowing + N90 under pre-sowing cultivation – 64, 5 and 11.6 t/ha, respectively. Application of 5 t/ha of straw + P90K130 under plowing + N90 under pre-sowing cultivation + foliar feeding with composite micronutrients fertilizer in the phase of leaf closure in rows and between rows was determined to be the most effective for sugar beet: yield of roots – 67.0 t/ha, sugar yield – 12.3 with an increase to the control without fertilizers by 23.7 and 4.4 t/ha.