Hassan, K., Hassany, W. (2017). Effect of Sowing Dates and Method on Fodder Beet Productivity under Saline Conditions at Siwa Oasis, Egypt. Journal of Plant Production, 8(11), 1121-1125. doi: 10.21608/jpp.2017.41128
Kh. H. Hassan; W. M. Hassany. "Effect of Sowing Dates and Method on Fodder Beet Productivity under Saline Conditions at Siwa Oasis, Egypt". Journal of Plant Production, 8, 11, 2017, 1121-1125. doi: 10.21608/jpp.2017.41128
Hassan, K., Hassany, W. (2017). 'Effect of Sowing Dates and Method on Fodder Beet Productivity under Saline Conditions at Siwa Oasis, Egypt', Journal of Plant Production, 8(11), pp. 1121-1125. doi: 10.21608/jpp.2017.41128
Hassan, K., Hassany, W. Effect of Sowing Dates and Method on Fodder Beet Productivity under Saline Conditions at Siwa Oasis, Egypt. Journal of Plant Production, 2017; 8(11): 1121-1125. doi: 10.21608/jpp.2017.41128
Effect of Sowing Dates and Method on Fodder Beet Productivity under Saline Conditions at Siwa Oasis, Egypt
Fodder Beet is potentially the highest yielding winter forage crops and is high in energy, palatability and digestibility. However, due to susceptibility of fodder beet to salinity at early growth stages and a relatively long growing season, transplanting technique and appropriate sowing date could help to fodder beet production particularly in saline soils. Therefore, two field trials were conducted in Agricultural Experimental Station of Desert Research Center at Tegzerty, Siwa Oasis, Matrouh Governorate, Egypt during 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 growing seasons. These trials were carried out to study the effect of four planting dates i.e. 15 Oct., 30 Oct., 15 Nov., 30 Nov. and two planting methods i.e. direct seeding and transplanting at 45 days on fodder beet productivity under saline conditions.Results indicated that top fresh or dry weights as well as fresh and dry weights of root either per plant or fed. (fed. =0.42 ha.) were decreased with delaying planting dates from 30 Oct. to 30 Nov. in both growing seasons. These reductions may be attributed to reducing length and diameter of roots with delaying planting dates. Whereas, number of harvestable plants/fed., at harvest, was increased with delaying planting date up to the 3rd planting date of 15 Nov. and after then it was decreased with the latest planting date at 30 Nov. Moreover, the percentage of abnormal roots (%) was significantly decreased with delaying planting dates in both growing seasons.Concerning the effect of planting methods, transplanting method markedly increased number of harvestable plants and abnormal root percentage as comparing with the traditional planting method of direct seeding in both growing seasons. Furthermore, top and root fresh or dry weights per plant were decreased with planting fodder beet by transplants. However, fresh or dry fodder beet yield/fed. was increased with planting method of direct seeding in the 1st growing season, but did not reach to a significant level in the 2nd one. These increments may be due to one or more the following reasons; increasing fresh or dry root/plant, top fresh or dry weight/plant, root length and/or root diameter.