Optimizing Spacing and Fertilization to Maximize Yield and Quality of Tropical Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in Bangladesh

Abstract

Sugar beet, a potential sugar crop in Bangladesh needs to develop an appropriate agronomic package to get maximum yield and quality. Therefore, to study the yield and quality of sugar beet as influenced by spacing and fertilization, an experiment was conducted at the Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute (BSRI) farm, Ishurdi, Pabna, during 2019-20 cropping season. To select the most suitable spacing and fertilizer dose, the experiment was carried out in RCBD using two spacing, viz., S1: 50 cm× 20 cm and S2: 60 cm× 20 cm and eight different fertilizer dose viz., F1: Urea, TSP and MoP @ 195, 75 and 169 kg ha^-1 (2 splits of Urea and MoP), F2: Urea, TSP and MoP @ 195, 75 and 169 kg ha^-1 (3 splits of Urea and MoP), F3: Urea, TSP, MoP and Cowdung @ 260, 100, 225 kg ha^-1 and 10 t ha^-1 (2 splits), F4: Urea, TSP, MoP and Cowdung @ 260, 100, 225 kg ha^-1 and 10 tha^-1 (3 splits), F5: Urea, TSP, MoP and Cowdung @ 260, 100, 225 kg ha^-1 and 5 t ha^-1 (2 splits), F6: Urea, TSP, MoP and Cowdung @ 260, 100, 225 kg ha^-1 and 5 t ha^-1 (3 splits), F7: Urea, TSP, MoP and Cowdung @ 195, 75, 169 kg ha^-1 and 10 t ha^-1 (2 splits), and F8: Urea, TSP, MoP and Cowdung @195, 75, 169 kgha-1 and 10 t ha^-1 (3 splits). The highest leaf number (35.80), shoot length (45.17 cm), root length (38.17 cm), girth (44.33 cm), root dry weight (132.33 g), root yield (86.87 t ha^-1) and total soluble solid (18.20%) was recorded in the 50cm × 20cm spacing along with application of Urea, TSP, MoP and Cowdung @ 260, 100, 225 kg and 10 t ha^-1, respectively with 3 splits of Urea and MoP (S1 × F4 combination) followed by 60cm × 20cm spacing along with application of Urea, TSP, MoP and Cowdung @ 260, 100, 225 kg ha^-1 and 10 t ha^-1, respectively with 3 splits of Urea & MoP (S2 × F4 combination) where leaf number (35.13), shoot length (44.97 cm), root length (38.47 cm), girth (43.90 cm), root dry weight (120.17 g), root yield (88.97 t ha^-1) and total soluble solid (18.12%) was obtained which were statistically significant and superior as compared to other treatment combinations.