Effect of fertilizer recommendation based on the soil analysis on sugar beet technical quality

The effect of N and P fertilizers application base on soil analysis were studied during 1999 and 2000 growing season in Fars and Esfahan Provinces of Iran. For 1999 and 2000 growing seasons in Esfahan and Fars Province 56 and 2000 growing season 36 and 56 and 38 sugar beet farms were randomly selected, respectively. In each farm, soil and water samples were selected and analyzed for routine soil fertility test. Each farm divided into two parts. In one part, all fertilizers were recommended based on the results of soil analysis (RST) and in the other part based on the farmers traditional method (FT), while all cultural practices were identical for both sections. During the growing season all farms were visited and cultural recommendation for enhancing sugarbeet values were given. At the end of growing seasons, sugar beet crops were harvested and their yield and quality were determined for each section. The results were analyzed using pair wise t test at 5 and 1 percent probability levels. The results showed that effect of RST and FT treatments on both yield and quality of sugar beet were significantly greater for RST than FT in Fars and ESfahan Provinces. For 1999 growing season, the root yields for RST were 34.69 and 36.12 t/ha which shows 600 and 900 kg/ha increase compare to FT in Fras and Esfahan Provinces, respectively. For 2000 growing season, the root yields in RST were 33.96 and 32.1 t/ha which were 1200 and 800 kg/ha higher than FT treatment. In the year 2000, sugar content of RST treatment in Fars was 16.01% which in comparison to FT treatment it was increased significantly (P0.05). In Fars Province during 2000, sugar yield of FT treatment was 4.87 t/ha which due to RST it was increased by 440 kg/ha. In Esfahan Province, in both years RST treatment increased the sugar yield. In the year 2000, RST treatment increased white sugar yield, thus fertilizer recommendation based on the results of soil analysis in the sugar beet farms may enhance the technical quality of sugar beet.