EFFECT OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULES ON GROWTH, YIELD, WUE AND ECONOMICS OF FODDER SUGAR BEET (BETA VULGARIS L.) VARIETIES UNDER COASTAL SALT AFFECTED SOILS
M. M. PATEL, H. K. JOSHI, V. A. PATEL AND V. P. USADADIA
Coastal Soil Salinity Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University,
Danti-Umbharat, Gujarat-396 450
*(e-mail : mmpatel_nau@rediffmail.com)
(Received : 20 April 2019; Accepted : 18 June 2019)
SUMMARY
A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2013-14 to 2015-16 at Danti-Umbharat, Gujarat to study the effect of irrigation schedules on productivity, water use efficiency and economics of fodder sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) varieties. Total twelve treatment combinations comprising of three irrigation schedules i.e., 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 IW/CPE ratio and four varieties viz., JK kuber, JK calixta, PAC-60008 and JK magnolia were evaluated in factorial randomized block design with four replications. Irrigation at 1.0 IW/CPE ratio recorded significantly higher growth and yield attributes viz., plant height, number of leaves, root length and root weight as well as fresh root yield, fresh foliage yield and total fresh biomass yield. Significantly improved plant height, number of leaves, root length and fresh foliage yield was observed in JK magnolia, while root weight, fresh root yield and total fresh biomass yield were significantly higher in JK kuber. Maximum net realization was recorded with application of irrigation at 1.0 IW/CPE ratio (I3) followed by 0.8 IW/CPE ratio (I2). In case of varieties, JK kuber (V1) secured the maximum net realization. Increasing irrigation levels from 0.6 IW/CPE ratio (I1) to 1.0 IW/CPE ratio (I3), total fresh biomass yield of all the varieties was increased and water use efficiency was decreased.
Key words: Water use efficiency, sugar beet, irrigation schedules, varieties, net realization