Effect of soil potassium on yield and quality of diverse sugar beet genotypes

Aiming at determination differences in leaf and root potassium concentration of diverse sugar beet genotypes as well as its effect on sugar beet root quality and yield. Investigations comprising 15 sugar beet genotypes (five multigerm lines, five hybrids and five monogerm lines) were carried out on two soil types (Calcic luvisol: L-1 and L-3 and Calcic gleysol: L-2 and L-4) during two growing seasons. Root yield of the investigated genotypes on Calcic luvisol (50 t/ha) was higher, than on Calcic gleysol (34 t/ha). In general, multigerm lines were known for the highest leaf potassium concentration (2.75%), lowest root one (3.78 mmol/100 g root), highest sugar content (13.8%) and best root extractable sugar (1.5%). Monogerm lines had the lowest leaf potassium concentration (2.51%), highest root one (4.24 mmol/100 g root), lowest sugar content (12.9%), and the poorest extractable sugar (10.7%). Root yield of the investigated hybrids (48 t/ha) was higher by 16% compared to multigerm lines yield (42 t/ha) and as much as 35% higher compared to monogerm lines (36 t/ha). Sugar beet root potassium was in significantly negative correlation with sugar content at three localities (L-1: r = -0.485**, L-2: r = -0.096, L-3: r = -0.687**, L-4: r = -0.337**) whereas at all four localities it was in negative correlation with extractable sugar (L-1: r = -0.634**, L-2: r = -0.407**, L-3: r = -0.930**, L-4: r = -0.749**). Potassium concentration in sugar beet leaf was in significant positive correlation with sugar content at three localities (L-1: r = 0.382**, L-2: r = 0.231, L-3: r = 0.717**, L-4: r = 0.516**).