The effects of sowing date and plant density on important agricultural and quality characters of sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) in Diyarbakır conditions

Objectives of this research were to investigate the effects of sowing date and plant density on important agricultural and quality characters of sugarbeet in 1999 and 2000, in Diyarbakır conditions. Five sowing dates (February 5 and 20, March 7 and 22, April 5) and five in row spacing (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 cm) of 45 cm beetwen rows were established for each plots. Four replications of each treatment were used in a split plot. At the end of this research; in both years of the study, it was determined that early sowing and narrow in row spacing resulted in higher root and sugar yields. In the first year of the study; root and sugar yields were nonsignificantly affected by sowing dates while, the highest root and sugar yields were obtained at February 5. However, root and sugar yields were significantly affected by plant densities and, the highest root and sugar yields were obtained at the 15, 20 and 25 cm in row spacing. In the second year of the study; root and sugar yields were significantly affected by sowing dates, plant densities and sowing dates x plant densities interactions and, the highest root and sugar yields were obtained at February 5 and 15 cm in row spacing. Key Words: Sugarbeet, sowing date, plant density, root yield, quality characters II