Effect of Seed Bed Preparation Time and Weed Management Method on Weed Biomass, Yield and Quality of Sugar Beet

This experiment was conducted during 2009-2010 in Kangavar, Iran, to study the effect of seedbed preparation time and weed management method on sugar beet yield quality and weed population. The experimental design was split plot in the form of a randomized complete block design with four replications. The main factor was seedbed preparation time (A) in three levels (a1- Seedbed preparation in the fall with barley, a2- Seedbed preparation in the fall without barley and a3- Seedbed preparation in spring). The sub factors were weed management methods (B) in three levels (a1- Integrated weed management, a2- Chemical weed control and a3- Weedy check). The results showed that weed biomass was significantly affected by seedbed preparation time. Before sugar beet drilling, weed dry weight of seedbed preparation in spring was 2 fold of seedbed preparation in the fall. The seedbed preparation treatment in the fall with barley as mulch caused 28% reduction in weed biomass and consequently 16% increase in root yield of sugar beet. Integrated weed management was more affective (85%) than that of chemical weed control (70%). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that seedbed preparation time significantly affected root yield. The highest root yield (64 t ha-1) was achieved in the fall seedbed without barley and the lowest root yield (54 t ha-1) was recorded in spring seedbed preparation time. The ANOVA showed that main effect of weed management method was significant (P<0.01) for root, sugar and white sugar yield of sugar beet. The highest root yield (73 t ha-1) was achieved in the integrated weed management treatment and weed infested control had the lowest root yield (35 t ha-1). There was no significant difference between root yield of sugar beet in chemical weed control (71 t ha-1) and that of integrated weed management treatment. Therefore, preparing the seedbed fully in the fall and drilling sugar beet in the first possible time in spring, and applying the suitable weed management method, it is possible to increase yield and quality of sugar beet. In this system, soil water may be save due to reducing tillage and also there is a chance for early drilling sugar beet in the spring.