Sugar beet yield and industrial sugar contents improved by potassium fertilization under scarce and adequate moisture conditions
Muhammad Umair Mubarak1, Muhammad Zahir1, Sagheer Ahmad2, Abdul Wakeel1
1 Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan 2 Sugar Crops Program, National Agricultural Research Center, Park Road, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Abstract Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is an industrial crop, grown worldwide for sugar production. In Pakistan, sugar is mostly extracted from sugarcane, soil and environmental conditions are equally favorable for sugar beet cultivation. Beet sugar contents are higher than sugarcane sugar contents, which can be further increased by potassium (K) fertilization. Total K concentration is higher in Pakistani soils developed from mica minerals, but it does not represent plant available K for sustainable plant growth. A pot experiment was conducted in the wire-house of Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences at University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan. K treatments were the following: no K (K0), K application at 148 kg ha–1 (K1) and 296 kg ha–1 (K2). Irrigation levels were used as water sufficient at 60% water holding capacity and water deficient at 40% water holding capacity. The growth, yield and beet quality data were analyzed statistically using LSD. The results revealed that increase in the level of K fertilization at water sufficient level significantly increased plant growth, beet yield and industrial beet sugar content. The response of K fertilization under water deficient condition was also similar, however overall sugar production was less than that in water sufficient conditions. It is concluded from this study that K application could be used not only to enhance plant growth and beet yield but also enhance beet sugar content both under water-deficient as well as water-sufficient conditions.
Muhammad Umair Mubarak, Muhammad Zahir, Sagheer Ahmad, Abdul Wakeel.
2016.
Sugar beet yield and industrial sugar contents improved by potassium fertilization under scarce and adequate moisture conditions. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 15(11): 2620-2626.
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