IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT OF POTATOes AND SUGARBEETs SIDNEY, MT

Sugarbeet (Beta 1252 in 1998, HH112 in 1999, and Beta 2185 in 2000) and potato (Russet Burbank and Shepody in all years) were planted in a commercial field at the Eastern Agricultural Research Center in Sidney, MT. Part of the field was irrigated using furrow-flood irrigation (May 3,  June 26,  July 14, July 26,  August 7,  August 18, August 28)   and another part was irrigated using a low-pressure overhead linear sprinkler system (April 25, June 14,  June 28,  July 18, July 28,  August 18,  September7, September 14).

Sugarbeet: Planted on April 21.  Harvested on September 18.  No significant differences in plant population were detected between the two irrigation systems in any year.  Stands were lower in 1998 and 2000 because of dry conditions at planting.  Emergence in 1998 and 2000 was uneven, and plots were irrigated early to improve emergence.

Root yield, sucrose content and sucrose yield were greater under flood irrigation in 1999.  Sugarbeet under flood irrigation had lower amino-N content and  lower loss to molasses in  1999 and 2000.  These data, along with ground water data not shown, suggest that nitrogen management for optimum yield and quality may be different for sugarbeet under sprinkler irrigation than sugarbeet under flood irrigation because of less leaching and run-off under the sprinkler system.

Yield and quality of sugarbeet grown under two types of irrigation over 3 years.

Different letters behind  values in the same year indicate significant difference at p<0.05.

Yield and quality of Russet Burbank potato grown under two types of irrigation over 4 years.

Different letters behind  values in the same year indicate significant difference at p<0.05.   * Planted April 25

Yield and quality of Shepody potato grown under two types of irrigation over 3 years.

Different letters behind  values in the same year indicate significant difference at p<0.05.  * Planted April 25