Effect of planting pattern on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in cold regions of Fars province

Planting pattern for sugar beet can be adjusted by changing in row spacing and row width, and also by one row or two - rows planting and by changing in plant interval on rows. To obtain the optimum planting pattern of a monogerm hybrid (Gadook) and its effect on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of sugar beet, an experiment was conducted in two years (2001-2002) in Eghlid area of Fars province. The measured characters were root yield, sucrose content, and percentage of the extractable white sugar, juice purity and impurities (ά- amino N, sodium and potassium). The experiment consisted of five treatments and replicated four times in a randomized complete blocks design. The treatments were as: 1- Row spacing of 60 cm, cultivated in one row. 2- Row spacing of 50 cm, cultivated in one row. 3- Row spacing of 60 cm, row width was 40 cm and cultivated in two rows. 4- Row spacing of 50 cm and row width of 50 cm and cultivated in two rows. 5- Row spacing of 40 cm, row width of 60 cm and cultivated in two rows. Each plot consisted of four lines with 10 meters length which were planted by planter. During the growth period number of plants and number of missing plants were recorded. The results of the effect of treatment on two years experiment showed that the root yield and white sugar yield were significant at 1% and 5% probability level, respectively. The maximum root yield and white sugar yield were obtained in the second treatment (row spacing of 50 cm and cultivated on one row) with the amount of 49.19 and 8.53 T/ha, respectively. The effect of cultivation pattern on the characters such as Sugar content, impurities (ά- amino N, sodium and potassium), alkality, percentage of the extractable white sugar, juice purity and molasses were not significant. The row spacing of 50 cm, cultivated in one row and row spacing of 50 cm row width of 50 cm and cultivated in two rows the best planting pattern because these two pattern have the maximum root yield, sugar content, white sugar yield and purity.