Sugar beet yield response to different levels of saline irrigation water and leaching in an arid region

The main objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of saline irrigation water and leaching on the sugar beet yield components. In a field experiment in Rudasht region (Isfahan, Iran), three irrigation water salinity levels (1.6, 8.1, and 12.3dS m(-1)) and with/without leaching were applied. The experimental units comprised of a completely randomized block design, with split plot in four replications. The results indicated that the white sugar yield and alkalinity decreased by increasing the water salinity. Salts leaching significantly increased the root yield, white sugar yield, and white sugar concentration. With higher levels of water salinity molasses sugar, leaf weight, and the concentrations of Na, K, and - amino-N in sugar beet significantly increased. Consequently, it appears that the use of drainage water in combination with fresh water could be recommended as a strategic management way to grow sugar beet in the investigated arid region.