Evaluation of the effects of steckling weight and planting density on monogerm sugar beet seed yield and quality

To determine the effects of steckling weight and planting density on seed quantitative and qualitative characteristics of monogerm sugar beet c.v. 9597, this experiment was carried out in Ardabil Agricultural Research Station in two years (1998-99). In this study, steckling weight with three different sizes(including <100, 100-200, and 200-300g) as main-plot, and planting density with three levels (including 40, 50 and 60 cm) as sub-plot were used in a split-plot experiment based on the RCBD with five replications. In this experiment morphological and qualitative (rate and uniformity of germination) characters, seed size distribution, and monogerm seed percentage were measured. According to the results, effect of planting density on the axillary branches number and seed yield was significant at 1% probability level. Seed yield increased by 43%, as planting density was increased from 40 to 60 cm. Increasement of steckling weight led to increasement of standard seed portion (with 3.5-4.5mm in diameter), germinable standard seed yield (11%) and reduction of germination rate and germination uniformity; and increasement of planting density was accompanied by increasing of >4.5 mm seed portion, velocity and unifomity of germination and decreasing of germinable standard seed yield. Eventually, the highest crude (1208 kg/ha) and germinable standard (229.16 kg/ha) seed yield were obtained by using steckling weight of 200-300 g and planting density of 60cm.