Effects of tillage and irrigation management on sugarbeet production

Tarkalson, D.D. and King, B.A. (2017) Effects of tillage and irrigation management on sugarbeet production. Agronomy Journal. 109(5):1-11. 13 July 2017. Available: doi:10.2134/agronj2016.09.0530

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Abstract

Increased water demands and drought have resulted in a need to determine the impact of tillage and deficit water management practices in irrigated sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) production. This study was conducted over three growing seasons (2012, 2013, and 2015) at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory in Kimberly, ID on a Portneuf silt loam soil. Treatments consisted of two tillage treatments (strip tillage [ST] and conventional tillage [CT]) and four water input treatments (approximately 100, 75, 50 and 25 percent of estimated crop ET [ETd]) using a linear move irrigation system. Estimated recoverable sucrose (ERS) yield, root yield, sucrose concentration and brei nitrate concentration were statistically the same for ST and CT across all water input levels. However, there was a significant tillage by water interaction for root yield in 2012. The significant interaction was a result of ST at the W3 (approx. 57 percent ETd) water input level having a higher root yield (72 Mg/ha) compared to the CT treatment (63 Mg/ha). Water input had significant effects on ERS and root yields. In general, as water input increased, ERS and root yields increased. Estimated recoverable sucrose and root yields in 2012, 2013, and 2015 were maximized at the ETd rates of 75, 97 and 58 percent, respectively. Data from this study supports the use of ST in sugarbeet production at various water input rates ranging from full irrigation to deficit irrigation. This support is based on equal yield potential with CT, tillage cost savings compared to CT, and agronomic and environmental benefits associated with increased soil surface residue.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	1598
Subjects:	Irrigation > Irrigation control Irrigation > Irrigation scheduling Irrigated crops > Sugarbeet Soil > Tillage
Depositing User:	Users 6 not found.
Date Deposited:	02 Aug 2017 23:00
Last Modified:	02 Aug 2017 23:00
Item ID:	1640
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/1640