Mahdi Mehrandish, Matin Jami Moeini and Mohammad Armin
To investigate the effect of potassium application on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of sugar beet under full and deficit irrigation, a split plot experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted. Experimental factors included two irrigation regimes (full and deficit irrigation) and three potassium application levels (0, 50 and 100 kg K2O ha-1). Potassium sulphate was used as potassium source in this experiment. Results showed that deficit irrigation significantly decreased root yield, shoot yield and sugar yield. However, irrigation treatments had no effect on impure sugar percent, pure sugar percent and root dry matter. Potassium application rates had significant effect on all investigated characteristics, except root dry matter. Potassium application increased root yield, shoot yield, impure sugar percent, pure sugar percent and sugar yield. Maximum and minimum root yield, impure sugar percent, pure sugar percent and sugar yield were observed in 100 kg K2O ha-1 and control treatments, respectively. According to experiment results, application of 100 kg K2O ha-1 improved quantitative and qualitative characteristics of sugar beet under full and deficit irrigation.
