The yield and technological quality of sugar beet roots cultivated in mulches

摘要

In 2005–2008, in several locations of southern Poland, the yield and technological root quality of two sugar beet cultivars (Esperanza and Henrike) cultivated in mustard mulch, straw mulch and in conventional tillage (with pre-winter plough) were investigated. Mustard mulch let to achieve the highest plant density during harvest. Replacing conventional ploughing with mustard mulch caused 9.4% root yield increase and with straw mulch 11.2%. Cultivation system had no effect on the content of sucrose and melassigenic components in the roots, except for potassium. Technological sugar yields obtained from mustard mulch were by 8.0% and in straw mulch by 11.3% higher than in the conventional tillage. Cv. Esperanza allowed getting the higher root yield, average fresh mass of single root and technological sugar yield, than cv. Henrike. In addition, lower content of alpha-amino-nitrogen was obtained from roots of the cv. Esperenza. In contrast, higher sucrose content and lower sodium content were found in the roots of cv. Henrike. The lowest variability in the sugar beet root yield features and technological quality was achieved from straw mulch.