Response of some sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L) varieties to different harvest dates under Middle Egypt conditions.

Two field experiments were conducted at a private farm located at Ehnasya, Beni-suif , Governorate, Egypt (Middle Egypt) during 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons to investigate the influence of three harvesting dates (D1=195 , D2=215 and D3=235 days after sowing) on yield, its attributes and quality traits for six sugar beet varieties (V1= Goran, V2= Nazarn, V3= Faraida, V4=Bts 3880 , V5 =Halawa and V6=Hosam). Each experiment was conducted as a randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) in a split-plot arrangement with three replications. Harvesting dates were allocated to the main plots and sugar beet varieties were assigned to the sub-plots in both seasons. Results showed that: harvest date had a significant effect on root and sugar yields, Pol. %, RSY, LS, RS %, P % and QZ % in both seasons, delaying harvest date from 195 days to 215 or 235 days increased root, sugar yields (ton/fed.), yield attributes, and most of the studied quality traits in both seasons, while earlier harvest date improved LS (ton/fed.) and α N %. Sugar beet variety Hossam (v6) followed by Halawa variety (v5) surpassed all other tested varieties for root, sugar yields, and generality of quality parameters. In addition, the interaction between the studied factors had a highly significant influence on most studied traits in both seasons. Thus, the highest root and recoverable sugar yields were obtained from the cultivation Hossam variety and harvested after 215 days in the first season and after 235 days in the second. Finally, it can be recommended that sowing sugar beet variety Hossam or Halawa and harvested after 215 or 235 days from planting to improve the yield and quality of sugar beet under Middle Egypt conditions.