Yield and Quality Traits of Field-grown Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in Response to Foliar Application of Micronutrients and Different Levels of Manure

Abstract

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is an agricultural crop with a high sucrose content in the root. Its specific properties make it an essential crop for the sugar processing industry—the response of sugar beet cv. ‘Sonja’ to different rates of animal manure and foliar application of micronutrients was explored. Animal manure was applied at six rates, whereas micronutrients (Fe, Zn, B, and Mn) were foliar applied at five levels and no micronutrients (control). The evaluated traits included gross sugar percentage, Na, K, and N contents of tubers, alkalinity, sugar extraction coefficient, root yield, pure sugar percentage, and molasses. The results showed that the maximum gross sugar of 18.59% and pure sugar of 16.22% were obtained in plots treated with 40 t ha-1 manure that was subjected to the foliar application of B. Also, foliar application of micronutrients (Mn, Zn, and B) under 40 t ha-1 manure by reducing the amount of Na and amino-N content of the sugar beet roots improved the quantitative and qualitative characteristics. The application of manure enhanced root yield, white sugar yield, and sugar yield by 31, 35, and 38%, respectively, compared to the no-manure treatment. The highest root yield of 63.96 t ha-1, white sugar yield of 11.24 t ha-1 and sugar yield of 9.28 t ha-1 was obtained from Mn application. The results revealed that the foliar application of micronutrients accompanied by animal manure application could maintain soil fertility and improve the quantitative and qualitative traits of sugar beet. HIGHLIGHTS m Sugar beet is an essential crop agricultural crop cultivated mainly for its high sucrose content root. m Animal manure and foliar application of micronutrients improved both soil fertility and improved the quantitative and qualitative traits of sugar beet. m The highest gross and pure sugar contents were obtained in plots treated with 40 t ha-1 of manure and that were subjected to foliar application.