Evaluation of chemical composition of roots of three sugar beets varieties growing under different water deficit and harvesting dates in Upper Egypt

Field experiments were carried out at Shandaweel Agricultural Research Station, Sohag, Egypt to study the effects of deficit irrigation and harvesting date chemical composition of three sugar beet varieties. A split block design with three replications was used. Main blokes were assigned to three irrigation water regimes (100%, 85%, and 70% of water requirement). The sub blot was occupied by three harvesting dates (180, 195 and 210 days). Sub- sub plots comprised three sugar beet varieties namely (RAVEL, SV1841and SA1686). Results indicated that reducing water supply reduced alpha - amino N present in the second season, Na present in the second season, and K present and sugar lost to molasses, but increased sucrose present, extractable present, QZ present, purity present, extractability present. Increasing harvesting date increased K present, sucrose present, extractable present, QZ present, purity present, extractability present but reduced alpha - amino N present, Na present and sugar lost to molasses in the second season. Sucrose present, extractable present, QZ present purity present and extractability present of RAVEL and SA1686 varieties were almost comparable but higher than those of SV1841 variety.

Haploid biotechnology as a tool for creating a selection material for sugar beets

Since the discovery of the phenomenon of haploidy, biotechnology has become an integral part in the successful creation of new varieties and hybrids of various plant species. In particular, these technologies are actively used in agriculture, which is concerned with increasing the volume and improving the quality of products. The integration of haploid production techniques together with other available biotechnological tools such as marker selection (MAS), induced mutagenesis and genetic engineering technologies can significantly accelerate crop breeding. This article shows the main stages in the development of biotechnology since 1921. Now they are successfully used to create doubled haploids to accelerate the selection process of various plants and, in particular, sugar beet, which is the most important sugar crop in regions with a temperate climate. There are several methods for obtaining forms with a single set of chromosomes. For sugar beets, the use of gynogenesis turned out to be expedient, since in this case the other methods turned out to be ineffective in the mass production of haploids. The article considers the stages of obtaining the H and DH lines of Beta vulgaris L., as well as the main stages of biotechnological production of homozygous breeding material of this culture. These stages include selecting parental forms – donor explants, sterilizing buds and introducing non-pollinated ovules in vitro, obtaining haploids, doubling their chromosome set, creating doubled haploids, determining ploidy at different stages, relocating the obtained plants to greenhouses and growing stecklings. A number of advantages that the technology of creating doubled haploids in vitro has in comparison with traditional methods of selection are described. It has been shown that the use of these approaches is relevant when obtaining new highly productive hybrids and varieties of agricultural plants; however, the methods for the production of homozygous forms in sugar beet still require additional research aimed at increasing the efficiency and reproducibility of each stage of the process.

Productivity of sugar beets and winter wheat depending on tillage systems and crop rotation protection

Purpose. Establish the impact of basic tillage and weed protection measures on soil density in winter wheat and sugar beet crops. Investigate the criteria for the formation of winter wheat and sugar beet productivity depending on weather conditions, measures of basic tillage and protection against weeds. Methods. Field, laboratory. Results. Soil density for the period of winter wheat harvesting for plowing to a depth of 20–22 cm and direct sowing was in the same range at the level of 1.22 and 1.23 g/cm3, which can be explained by the peculiarity of the soil and the root system of the plants themselves. In sugar beet crops, the combination of plowing to a depth of 25–27 cm with subsequent shelfless loosening at 34–36 cm makes it possible to maintain the density of the arable soil at the level of equilibrium for this type of soil. In other treatments, the soil density increases to 1.27 and 1.28 g/cm3, with compaction of the upper 0–10 cm layer of soil to 1.25 g/cm3 for plowing by 30–32 cm and 1.29 g/cm3 – for shelf-free loosening by 34–36 cm, which has a negative impact on the productivity of sugar beets. Conclusions. With the optimal sowing period for the conditions of Kyiv region on September 12–15, the most optimal sowing rate remains 4.5 million units. nas./ha, for increase in density of standing of plants we note lodging of plants and damp years and essential shortage of grain in arid. According to our research, the main tillage for winter wheat plowing by 20–22 cm remains the most rational for obtaining stable yields of winter wheat (yield was 5.03 t/ha). At the same time, good predecessors of peas for grain, rape, buckwheat can be used direct sowing with the introduction of herbicide continuous action Roundup, 48% v.r. 3.0 l/ha. The highest productivity of sugar beets was obtained by using the main tillage plowing by 25–27 cm + shelfless loosening by 34–36 cm yield of root crops at the level of 52.13–51.73 t/ha, sugar content – 14.80–14.83%, sugar harvest – 7.73–7.81 t/ha. On deep medium loam chernozems, this tillage allows to ensure optimal agrophysical indicators of the soil, remove the plow sole, earn crop residues and ensure yields in arid conditions. Application of sugar-free loosening to sugar beets to a depth of 34–36 cm reduces the yield of root crops by 5.32 and 7.20 t/ha compared to plowing to a depth of 30–32 cm, which is associated with an increase in weediness of crops and soil density.

The benefit of an artificial carbohydrates supply on Earth

<p>Our conventional, biogenic agriculture (CBA) has failed to provide a reliable concept to feed a growing population in a sustainable way. In particular CBA suffers from severe environmental externalities - such as the massive use of land area, water for irrigation, fertiliser, pesticides, herbicides, and fossil fuel.</p> <p>Here we suggest the artificial synthesis of carbohydrates from (atmospheric) carbon dioxide, water, and renewable energy, which would allow not only a highly reliable production without those externalities, but would also open the possibility to increase the agricultural capacity of our planet by several orders of magnitude. Our study shows that saccharose could be produced from CO2, water and electrical energy with an efficiency exceeding 30% equivalent to about 15 kWh per kg of sugar. Factoring in the efficiency of photovoltaic electricity generation we derive a „sun to sugar“ efficinecy exceeding 6%, which is about 10-times the efficiency of CBA sugar beets or sugar cane.</p> <p>All required technology is either commercially available or at least developed on a lab-scale. No directed research has, however, yet been conducted towards an industry-scale carbohydrate synthesis because the CBA carbohydrate production was thought to be economically more competitive. However, considering the environmental and socioeconomic externalities of the conventional sugar production, this economical narrative has to be questioned. We estimate the production costs of artificial sugar at about 1 €/kg. Today’s spot market price for conventional sugar is about 0.3 €/kg, however, we estimate its total costs (including external costs) at >0.9 €/kg in humid regions and >2 €/kg in semi-arid regions. Accordingly, artificial sugar appears already today to be the less expensive way of production. The artificial sugar production allows in principle also for a subsequent synthesis of other carbohydrates such as starch as well as of fats. These synthetic products could be used as a feedstock to microorganisms, fungi, insects, or livestock in order to enhance also the sustainability of the biogenic production of, e.g., proteins.</p>

THE EFFECT OF ZEOLITE ON THE YIELD AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF SUGAR BEET

The article presents the results of a field experiment on the introduction of zeolites from the Tatarsko-Shatrashansky deposit of the Republic of Tatarstan for sugar beets, the Dubravka variety, on leached chernozem. The studied doses of the agromineral are 10 and 15 t/ha. The results of the study revealed the effectiveness of zeolite when embedded in soil and its effect on the productivity of sugar beet and its biochemical characteristics. An increase in crop yield was established by 1.3-1.5 t/ha. An increase in the content of nitrogen and easily hydrolyzable carbohydrates in root crops is noted - depending on the dose of zeolite, up to 0.19 and 0.7 %, respectively.

Effect of Low Temperature on the Aggressiveness of Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-2 Isolates on Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) Seedlings

Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group (AG) 2-2 can cause seedling damping-off in sugar beets and substantial losses may occur in all regions where beets are grown. Sugar beets are planted early in the season when soil temperatures are low in order to maximize the length of the growing season and minimize the risk of damping-off. However, predictive models that indicate there is little to no risk of Rhizoctonia damping-off at temperatures <15°C may not be entirely reliable. We tested this possibility by inoculating sugar beet seedlings in a growth chamber at 11°C with 35 R. solani AG 2-2 isolates that were representative of the genetic diversity present in AG 2-2. Although disease progress and growth rate were greatly reduced at 11°C, considerable disease symptoms did develop in inoculated plants. Three weeks after inoculation, 16% of the plants were dead and 77% of the isolates tested had average disease severity scores that were significantly greater than those of the mock inoculated control. This confirms our concern about the possibility for low-temperature infection of sugar beets and indicates that waiting until the soil warms up to above 15°C to apply fungicide could leave the crop at risk. Aggressiveness does not appear to be related to subgroup or growth rate but rather depends on the response of the specific isolate to low temperature.

Effect of granular fertilizer of disinfected chicken dung application on crop productivity and soil fertility

On dark gray forest and leached chernozem soils of the Tambov region, the effectiveness of using new granular organic fertilizer from poultry excreta was evaluated. After disinfection of the litter by deep drying, the total content of NPK in the fertilizer constitutes 11-12%, the content of trace elements is about 1g/kg. Field experiments conducted in 2019 showed that the yield increase from the introduction of the studied organic fertilizer at a dose of 4-8 t/ha on spring wheat was 25-30%, on spring barley - 20-23%, on sugar beets from the introduction of 8 t/ha - 10-12%, on potatoes - 40-50%, on tomatoes from 6 t/ha - 30-32% Profitability from the use of this fertilizer on cereals is 130-145%, on technical crops - 140-150%, on vegetables - 230-250%. Optimal fertilizer doses contribute to increasing protein in wheat grains by 1.5%, sugar content in sugar beets by 8-9%, starch content in potatoes by 3-4%, and sugar, dry substances and vitamin C content in tomatoes by 1-2%. The introduction of fertilizer in doses higher than optimal contributes to the increase of basic nutrients and micronutrients content in the soil.

Investigating natural cooling of piled sugar beet

The paper examines the processes of natural cooling of a medium-storage pile containing 3,650 tons of sugar beets. Adiabatic cooling and related processes are established to have a predominant effect on reducing the temperature in the pile while in storage. Piled sugar beet is cooled due to some natural water evaporation from the surface of sugar beets, followed by moisture saturation of the outside air. Such cooling leads to an uncontrolled decrease in the quality of beets, which has negative implications during further processing. A formula is presented for calculating post-harvest yield loss in sugar beets piled with one slope being across the prevailing wind.

Technical means for disinfection and processing of bedding manure into organic fertilizers

Organic waste from agricultural production, bedding manure of cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, chickens and poultry litter when kept in cages are the main components for the production of organic fertilizers and biogas production. Waste of grain, cereal crops and sugar beets should be used as components for reducing moisture during aeration in piles, houses and bioreactors. Fresh organic waste should be stored on the sites in piles, where, before being processed in aeration houses and bioreactors, they must go through a mesophilic period. Fresh organic waste, when introduced into the soil in the first year, negatively affects the growth and development of plants, therefore, it must be disinfected and processed into organic fertilizers and biogas. Currently, the lack of knowledge about the methods of disinfection and processing of agricultural waste requires the development of new technological and technical solutions.