Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Production by a Package of Tillage Systems, in Guneid Area (Sudan)

Abstract

The present research study was carried out at Guneid Research Sugar Cane Center during the two seasons of 2014 and 2015.The objective was to investigated the effect of four tillage systems (mouldboard plowing (T1), disc plowing (T2), chisel plowing (T3) and disc harrowing (T4)), The parameters measured were soil moisture content SMC, some crop parameters (germination ratio (GR), root thickness (RIMD), root number per feddan (RNPF), leaf weight (LW), root crop yield (RY), polarization or sugar content (Pol%), estimated recovery sugar (ERS%) and sugar beet production (TSB). A complete randomized block design with four replications was used in this study. The results showed that tillage treatments significantly (P≤0.05) affected soil moisture and the maximum soil moisture content (22.5%) was recorded at the third depth (30-45cm) by T3 while the minimum soil moisture content (15.5%) was recorded at the first depth (0-15cm) by T4. Different tillage systems significantly (P ≤0.05) affected RNPF and GR. The maximum value of RNPF 26157 roots/feddan, GR (76.2%) and TSB (4.2 ton/feddan) and were given by T2 treatment, while the maximum RIMD (35.5 cm )were recorded by T3 treatment and the maximum values of Pol% (18.6%) and ERS% (16.9%) were recorded by T4 treatment. While the minimum values of RY, (24.6 ton/feddan) and GR (66.5%) were given by T3 treatment. It was concluded that using disc plowing increased sugar production from sugar beet crops at Guneid Research Sugar Cane Center.