Optimisation of irrigation strategy in sugar beet farming based on yield, quality and water productivity

Present experiments were conducted to determine the effects of different irrigation levels on yield, yield components and quality of drip-irrigated sugar beet under sub-humid conditions. Field experiments were conducted in the 2019 and 2021 growing seasons in the Bursa province of Turkey. Experiments were carried out in completely randomised blocks design with three replications. Irrigations were scheduled based on the replenishment of 100 (S1), 66 (S2), 33 (S3), and 0% (S4) of soil water depletion within the soil profile of 90 cm using 7-day irrigation intervals. In 2019, root yields varied between 29.32 (S4)–86.31 (S1) t/ha and sugar yields between 6.33–13.57 t/ha. In 2021, root yields varied between 26.18 (S4)–74.56 (S1) t/ha and sugar yields between 6.56–12.53 t/ha. Effects of different irrigation levels on investigated parameters were found to be significant (P < 0.01). The crop water consumption values were significantly related to root and sugar yields (P < 0.01). Based on present findings, S1 treatment was recommended to get the highest root and sugar yields. In case of limited water resources, S2 (33% water shortage) treatment with the highest water productivity and irrigation water productivity values could be recommended to ensure maximum efficiency from the applied irrigation water quantity.