Effects of different irrigation methods on yield and water use efficiency of sugar beet in the arid area of China

Isoda, A., H. Konishi, P. Wang and Z. Li, HortResearch 61: in press

Abstract: Effects of three different irrigation methods (drip, porous-tube and furrow irrigations) on yield and water use efficiency in sugar beet (Bata vulgaris L.) were examined under arid conditions in northern Xinjiang, China. The drip and porous-tube irrigations had more frequency and fewer amount as compared with the furrow irrigation. The total amounts of water applied by the drip and porous-tube irrigation were both 63% of that by the furrow irrigation. There was no large difference in leaf area index (LAI) among the three irrigation methods with 7.3~7.6 in the maximum LAIs, though the furrow irrigation plot showed smaller LAIs during the growing season. Every irrigation plot showed high yields, around 70 t ha-1, with no significance among the irrigation methods. The furrow irrigation had 4.5 g kg-1 in total dry weight per total irrigated water (WUE) during the growing season. The drip and porous-tube irrigations had 7.2 g kg-1 and 7.5 g kg-1 in WUE, which were 160% and 168% of the furrow irrigation, respectively. Total dry weight per available water (irrigation and precipitation) were 4.3 g kg-1 and 4.6 g kg-1 for the drip and porous-tube irrigations, being 136% and 144% of the furrow irrigation, respectively.