Sugar Beet Autumn Planting in Warm Areas of Esfahan Province and Izeh Khozestan

Autumn planting of sugar beet as compared to its spring cultivation demands less application of water in semi-arid region such as Iran. Therefore, cultivation of sugar beet in autumn is considered as a better choice to be benefited from autumn and winter precipitation and escaping from water deficit crises. In two areas of Aran-o-Bidgol, Esfahan (AE) and Izeh, Khuzestan (IK), two independent experiments were carried out in 2006-2007. In IK, the effect of two planting dates and two harvesting times on yield quality and quantity of one Iranian and one non-Iranian cultivars were studied. Due to a mild winter in IK, the bolting percentage of the plant was less than what recorded for AE. In IK, the bolting percentage of Iranian cultivar was 1% at the first planting and harvesting dates. By delaying the planting date and hence decreasing the growth period, bolting percentage reached to a level of 5%. Bolting percentage in the AE area was 15.38% for Iranian cultivar, while none bolting was observed in the Iranian cultivar in the AE area. The root yields (RY) of the two cultivars were not significantly different, but as compared to non Iranian cultivar, probably due to its bolting, sugar content (SC) of the Iranian cultivar decreased by 2.5 percent. Consequently, sugar yield (SY) and white sugar yield (WSY) both decreased more than one unit. Due to bolting of Iranian cultivar, its purity decreased 6% as compared to non Iranian cultivar. In IK area, Iranian cultivar showed higher and non significant RY, SY & WSY as compared to non Iranian cultivar, in both planting dates. The result indicated that higher RY, SY & WSY were obtained by planting in the middle of October and harvesting in the middle of June in the IK area. Harvesting date IK area was sensitive by early harvesting (one month sooner) lead to decreases of RY, SY & WS Y. It was concluded that there is possibility to plant sugar beet in warm area of AE and IK area.