Performance of Some Sugar Beet Varieties Under Different Sowing Dates

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted at Sakha, Kafer El-Sheikh, Governorate in 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 seasons to evaluate five multigerm sugar beet varieties sown at three sowing dates (1 st September, 1 st October and 1 st November). The tested sugar beet varieties were imported from Germany (Del 937 and Carolla), France (LP13), Netherlands (Samba) and Sweden (Baraca). Split plot design with four replicates was applied in both seasons. Sowing dates were arranged in the main plots and varieties in the sub plots. The results indicated that sowing sugar beet on the 1 st of October significantly surpassed the other two dates in root length, diameter and fresh weight, sucrose% as well as root and sugar yields/fed., while impurities% in roots (α-amino N, K and Na%) were increased by delaying sowing date up to the 1 st of November in both seasons. The tested sugar beet varieties differed significantly in root length, diameter and fresh weight, sucrose%, root and sugar yields/fed., and impurities% in both seasons. Carolla variety was the best one where it gave the highest root and sugar yields/fed. The interaction between the three sowing dates and five varieties had a significant effect on sucrose%, root and sugar yields. Sowing Carolla variety on the 1 st October was recommended for cultivation in Kafer EL-Sheikh as it gave the highest sucrose%, as well as sugar and root yields/fed in both seasons.