Spacing and Space-planting Experiments on Sugar Beet in Israel

Abstract

SUMMARYRoot and sugar yield responses of the Polyrave variety were more favourable to the lower of two population levels (70,000 and 92,000 beets/ha.) and to the wider of two between-row distances (60 and 50 cm.). When the triploid Trirave variety was space planted and, for comparison, conventionally planted and thinned to 3 population levels at 60 cm. between-row distance, the intermediate (87,000 beets/ha.) level gave the highest sugar yield. The thinned treatments consistently outyielded the corresponding space-planted treatments. Space planting at 40 cm. between-row distance resulted in high beet populations (130,000 beets/ha.) which evoked unfavourable responses in root and sugar yield and even in sugar content.