Effects of potassium, magnesium, and sulphur containing fertilizers on yield and quality of sugar beets (Beta vulgaris L.)

Official URL: http://mistug.tubitak.gov.tr/bdyim/abs.php?dergi=tar&rak=0812-19

Effects of potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and sulphur (S) containing fertilizers on root yield, refined sugar yield, and K, Mg, and S concentrations of leaf of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) were studied on 3 different locations in Konya province, namely Kuzucu, Karaarslan, and Alakova, in 2004, 2005, and 2006. In the trails, a uniform diammonium phosphate (DAP) + urea application was used as the control treatment, while potassium sulphate and Mg containing Kalimagnesia, were applied at varying rate combinations. Compared to the control treatment (DAP + urea), all fertilizer treatments containing K, Mg, and S increased root yield in the Kuzucu and Alakova locations, while in the Karararslan location only potassium sulphate treatment improved root yield. The Kalimagnesia fertilizer containing all 3 nutrients, namely K, Mg, and S, enhanced root yield by 42% and 39% in the Kuzucu and Alakova locations, respectively. But, this yield-stimulating effect of the Kalimagnesia fertilizer was rate-dependent. Kalimagnesia was also effective in improving the sugar content of the root, while the amino-N levels were not consistently affected by the fertilizer treatments. Despite increases in the leaf concentrations of K, Mg, and S by the tested fertilizers, the changes in the leaf concentrations of these nutrients could not fully explain the increases in root yields. In the discussion of the results, the possible role of basic cation saturation ratios of soils was also taken into consideration. The results indicate that a fertilizer treatment including 81 kg K2O ha(-1), 27 kg Mg ha(-1), and 46 kg S ha(-1) may be recommendable in fertilization of sugar beets, together with regular nitrogen and phosphorus applications, under similar conditions, in order to achieve a balanced mineral nutrition and sustain better root and sugar yields.