TILLAGE, NUTRIENTS AND WEED CONTROL AFFECTS YIELD OF SUGAR BEET

Field trials were conducted to study the effectiveness of tillage, nutrients and weed management on the yield related variables of sugar beet at two locations (Mardan and D.I. Khan) of Pakistan during 2015 and repeated in 2016. Data of first year reveals that tillage and nutrient sources have no effect on 'weed related variables at both locations. However, during the second year tillage sources had no effect while nutrient sources had significant effect on the weed density and fresh biomass at both locations. Weed management differently affected weed density and fresh biomass that ultimately increased sugar beet related variables. In both the years, broadleaf weeds were dominant in the experimental fields. Highest sugar beet yield was found in year 1 at Mardan (67.87 tons ha(-1)) in Dual gold treated plots. While highest sugar quantity was produced during year 2 at Mardan (11.44 tons ha(-1)) in two time hand weeded plots. By comparing the data of both locations, it was concluded that performance of sugar beet was better at Mardan as compared to D.I Khan. This difference may be due to soil and climatic conditions. Net income has shown that Dual gold proved profitable than the rest of the treatments. Intercropping increased the income and decreased weed density but it can also increase the extra cost. It was concluded that weeds are major threat to sugar beet and being a root crop it can be severely affected due to infestation of weeds and thus can greatly decrease the sugar beet yield. Application of Dual gold effectively controls weeds and as a result ultimate increase occurs in the sugar beet yield and net income.