Effect of Zinc applied together with compound fertilizer on yield and quality of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of zinc, added into compound fertilizer in the production process, and zinc applied together with compound fertilizer on yield and quality component of sugar beet in 2009-2010.The treatments consisted of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) (12-30-12) compound fertilizer; 2. NPK (12-30-12) compound fertilizer + zinc sulfate and NPK (10-20-20) + 1% Zn compound fertilizer. Root yield, sugar percentage, white sugar percentage (WSP), white sugar yield (WSY), alpha-amino nitrogen, sodium and potassium concentration were investigated in this study. A total of 5kg ha(-1) zinc application on sugar beet significantly increased the yield and quality of sugar beet; the rate of increase was in the range of 4.62-6.97% in root yield, 2.09-5.75% in sugar percentage, 2.60-8.03% in WSP and 7.84-13.06% in WSY. NPK (10-20-20) + 1% Zn compound fertilizer and NPK (12-30-12) compound fertilizer + zinc applications increased the sugar beet yield and quality values in both years.