Effect of Boron Application on the Yield and Quality of Sugar Beet

This research was conducted to determine the effects of application methods and the levels of boron on the root yield and quality of sugar beet in the Konya-Altınekin plain. The experimental soil was sandy loam, poor in organic matter and rich in calcium carbonate. The soil was alkaline in reaction and sufficient in boron content (0.55 ppm). In this work, three different levels of boron in borax form (0, 0.3 and 0.6 kg B/da) were applied with five different methods (soil, leaf, seed, soil + leaf, seed + leaf). The results showed that the root yield and refined sugar yield of sugar beet with "soil + leaf'', "soil'', and "leaf'' application methods of boron at the level of 0.3 kg/da over the controls were increased by 12.5%, 12.1%, 11.1% and 8.7%, 18.3%, 3.5%, respectively. On the other hand, increasing levels of boron applied with the same methods to the soil decreased the root and refined sugar yield. However, with the "seed'' and '"seed + leaf'' application methods of boron at the levels of 0.3 and 0.6 kg/da, the root and refined sugar yield, as compared to controls, decreased by 17.8%, 12.5% and 23.7%, 0.35%, and 31.0%, 20.1% and 37.5%, 14.7%, respectively. While the root sugar content and refined sugar content varied depending on the application methods and levels of boron, they were generally lower than the controls in terms of the boron applications. The highest yield and the highest quality of sugar beet were obtained with the soil application method of boron at the level of 0.3 kg/da as borax material.