Effect of fertilizer regime and sowing time on the growth and yield of sugar beet Beta vulgaris (L.)

Homogenous seeds of an exotic variety Kawe Terma were sown in a four replicated Randomized Complete Block Design keeping a net plot area of 2x3 meter to test fertilizer regime (T1 = 0-0, T2 = 25-30, T3 = 50-60, T4 = 75-90, T5 = 100-120, and T6 = 125-150 NP kg/ha) and sowing time (S1 =20th November and S2 =1st December). Sugar beet treated with 125-150 NP kg/ha, and 20th November sowing time and their interaction recorded individually maximum length of leaves 47.87, 39.24 and 50.23 cm. Application of 75-90, 100-120 and 125-150 NP kg/ha recorded equally maximum number of leaves 10.05, 10.18, and 10.35/plant, similarly 20th November sowing and the interaction of 125-150 NP kg/ha and 20th November sowing time maximum No. of leaves 11.51 and 12/37/plant plant respectively. Plot treated with 100-120 or 125-150 NP kg/ha, 20th November sowing time and the interaction of 125-150 NP kg/ha and 20th November sowing time recorded maximum length of root (28 .17 or 28.75, 27.10 and 32.15/plant). Sugar beet treated with 100-120 and 125-150 NP kg/ha produced maximum length of root of leaves (72.51 and 76.62 cm), similarly 20th November sowing time (66.34 cm) and their interaction (82.38 cm) respectively. Application of 125-150 NP kg/ha, 20th November, sowing date and their interaction recorded maximum root breadth 15.03 or 11.48, 17.75 cm respectively. Sugar bet treated with 100-120 or 125-150 NP kg/ha, gave equally maximum weight of root 2267.68 or 2340.41/g, similarly 20th November sowing time and the interaction of 125- 150 NP kg/ha and 20th November sowing time also recorded maximum root weight (2124.92 and 2545.41 cm) respectively. Maximum leaves weight 281.75, 234.25 and 315.00 g was recorded under 125-150 NP kg/ha, 20th November sowing time and 125-150 NP kg/ha and 20th November sowing time. Plot treated with 100-120 or 125-150 NP kg/ha gave equally higher weight of leaves + root (2518.23 or 2622.16 g/plant), similarly 20th November sowing time and the interaction of 125-150 NP kg/ha and 20th November sowing time recorded maximum weight of root + leaves (2359.17 and 2860.14 g/plant respectively). Application 100-125 or 125-150 NP kg/ha recorded equally maximum root yield (24.45 ad 26.01 kg/plot), similarly 20th November sowing time and the interaction between 125-150 NP kg/ha and 20th November sowing time also produced greater root yield, (22.43 and 27.20 kg/plot). Sugar beet crop treated with 100-120 or 125-150 NP kg/ha gave equally maximum root yield (40.75 or 43.35 M t/ha), similarly 20th November sown crop and the interaction of 125-150 NP kg/ha and 20th November sowing time also displayed maximum root yields 37.39 and 45.34 M.t/ha respectively. Sugar beet treated with 125-150, 20th November sowing date and the interaction between 125-150 NP kg/ha and 20th November sowing time recorded individually maximum sucrose content 15.92, 15.13 and 16.50% respectively. It may be argued that sugar bee t treated with 100-125 NP kg/ha or 125-150 NP kg/ha equally produced greater root yield and sucrose content of juice. Further early planted 20th November, sowing crop also displayed greater root yield and sucrose content than did 1st December sown crop.