Regulated Deficit Irrigation at Special Development Stages Increases Sugar Beet Yield

Abstract

Core Ideas Different growth stages of drip‐irrigated sugar beet can bear different water deficit level. The canopy development stage is the most water‐sensitive period of the sugar beet. Regulated deficit irrigation could increase beet yield and reduce the consumption of water resources in arid land. ABSTRACT The shortage of water resources promotes the development of water saving irrigation in arid land. Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), as one of the water‐saving irrigation technologies through applying a certain amount of water stress to the crops to promote the distribution of the photosynthate of crops to the needs of the tissues and organs, can save water and may increase yield. Our study evaluated the effect of the RDI on the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. cv. Beta356). Seven irrigation treatments were applied based on the growth stages of sugar beet (canopy development, storage root development, and sugar accumulation) and water deficit levels (30, 50, and 70% of field capacity [FC]). The yield, quality, sugar yield, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and agronomic physiological traits of sugar beet were evaluated. Moderate water deficit (50% of FC) during canopy development increased sugar yield by 27% compared with the control (70% of FC during the whole growth stages). Severe (30% of FC) water deficit increased sugar yield by 45% during storage root development, and by 55% during sugar accumulation. The RDI during canopy development and storage root development inhibited leaf growth but did not affect yield. Malondialdehyde content and relative conductivity increased significantly when soil water content dropped to the irrigation threshold levels (i.e., 30% and 50% of FC) before rehydration during canopy development. After rehydration, there were significant increases in peroxidase activity and proline content (indicators of antioxidant defense and osmotic stress). Our results indicated that RDI increased yield at 30% and 50% of FC during three growth stages (canopy development, storage root development, and sugar accumulation) of sugar beet, which reduced irrigation water requirements. RDI could be applied as a strategic action for crop sustainability and water saving in arid land.

Improving sugar beet yield, quality, and water use efficiency by nursery and transplanting practice under semi‐arid conditions

“…This is consistent with our findings (Figure 1; Tables 3 and 4), as the second site with a lower night temperature (on average, Tmin of site 1: 9.1°C and Tmin of site 2: 7.1°C) attained a higher yield and quality. Many studies have shown the influence of early and common transplanting dates of sugar beet leads to the higher RY and SY because of the early development of maximum leaf area, particularly when the environment is most suitable for maximum assimilation (Balwinder‐Singh et al., 2019; Deihimfard et al., 2021; Li et al., 2019; Topak et al., 2016). Therefore, sugar beet seedlings should be transplanted later in semi‐arid cold and semi‐arid temperate climates and earlier in arid hot and arid temperate climates (Deihimfard et al., 2021).…”

Deficit irrigation combined with nitrogen application in the early growth stage of sugar beet increases the production capacity of canopy and avoids yield loss

“…According to the growth characteristics of sugar beet, the growth stages of sugar beet can be divided into seeding stage (0-44 days after emergence (DAE)), canopy rapid growth stage (CRGS, 45-90 DAE) and taproot expansion and sugar accumulation stage (91 DAE to harvest). 19,23 A randomized complete block design in a split-plot arrangement with three replicates was used. Three N application rates (N0, 0 kg N ha −1 ; N1, 150 kg N ha −1 ; N2, 225 kg N ha −1 ) and two water treatments (W1, normal irrigation, 70% field capacity (FC); W2, deficit irrigation, 50% FC in CRGS) were set in this experiment.…”

“…16,17 It is reported that in Xinjiang, the yield reduction caused by water deficit stress can reach over 30%. 18,19 Therefore, some studies have been carried out to explore the effects of N application on alleviating drought stress on sugar beet and preventing yield loss in arid regions. For example, Abyaneh et al 20 reported that under DI (85-65% of the crop water requirements), sufficient N fertilizer supply (160 kg ha −1 ) significantly increased root yield and sugar yield by 6.8% and 5.3%, respectively, compared with a supply of 120 kg ha −1 of N fertilizer.…”

Water use efficiency responses to fluctuating soil water availability in contrasting commercial sugar beet varieties

“…Sugar beet varieties are developed for a range of markets around the world, from the dry climates of the Middle East to the temperate climates of Europe and North America ( Morillo-Velarde and Ober, 2008 ). Although there are many studies looking at the effects of irrigation on sugar beet in drier climates ( Mohammadian et al., 2005 ; Hassanli et al., 2010 ; Topak et al., 2011 ; Li et al., 2019 ), in much of Europe, irrigation is not economically feasible ( Rezbova et al., 2013 ) and sugar beet WUE must be increased to maximize the use of rainfall to reach the crop’s full yield potential ( Hoffmann and Kenter, 2018 ). Despite a maritime ancestry, which makes sugar beet more drought tolerant than many major crop species ( Dunham, 1993 ), yield losses are still evident under drought with unirrigated losses in Europe ranging from 15-40% depending on the regional climate and soil type ( Pidgeon et al., 2001 ).…”