Klamath Experiment Station
Sugarbeet Variety Evaluation in the Klamath Basin, 1997
K.A. Rykbost', D. Kirby', and R.L. Dovel'
A
bstract
Official variety evaluation trials of the
California Beet Growers Association
were conducted at Klamath Experiment
Station (KES) and Intermountain Research
and Extension Center (IREC) sites. Thirty
entries were evaluated in 1997. Average beet
yields were 5 ton/acre higher at KES than at
IREC, but sugar content was 1.3 percent
higher at IREC than at KES. As in previous
years, variety performance was significantly
influenced by location. Several of the varieties
with high sugar yields at one location were
among the lowest yielding varieties at the
other site. Seventeen of the 30 varieties tested
have been included in the trials for three or
more years. HM Bighorn, 3BG 6360, HH 88,
and Monohikari were among the varieties that
produced the highest gross crop value over 3
years at KES. At IREC, HM 7006, HM Bighorn, HH 88, 3BG 6360, and KW 6000 were
among the best in gross crop value over the
last 3 years. Several entries evaluated less
than 3 years were among the highest yielding
entries in 1996 and 1997.
Introduction
Variety trials are conducted annually at
the Oregon State University (OSU) Klamath
Experiment Station (KES) and the University
of California Intermountain Research and
Extension Center (IREC) to evaluate the
performance of commercially available and
experimental sugarbeet varieties under local
conditions: These trials, sponsored by the
California Beet Growers Association (CBGA),
determine yield performance, which in combination with disease reactions evaluated in
Idaho trials, serve as the basis for determining
suitability of varieties for commercial production in the Klamath Basin. Entries in the trial
are provided in coded format with variety
identity revealed only after data are presented
to CBGA. The 1997 trials evaluated 30
entries from 5 seed companies.
Procedures
KES
The KES trial site was a Poe fine
sandy loam soil cropped with spring grain in
1996 and potatoes in 1995. The soil had a pH
of about 6.0, organic matter content of approximately 1.0 percent in the plow layer, and
somewhat restrictive drainage because of a
compacted layer at about 18-inch depth. The
field was plowed in early April. On May 2,
600 lb/acre of 12-12-12 fertilizer was broadcast and incorporated with a spring-tooth
harrow. The seedbed was firmed with a
/ Superintendent/Professor and Associate Professor, respectively, Klamath Experiment Station,
Klamath Falls, OR.
2 / Acting Superintendent/Research Associate, U.C. Davis Intermountain Research and Extension
Center, Tulelake, CA.
1
Acknowledgments: We are grateful to American Crystal Sugar Company, Betaseed, Inc.. Hilleshog
Mono-hy, Inc., Seedex, Inc.. and Spreckels Sugar Company for financial support and to Spreckels
Sugar Company for analysis of beet samples.
Klamath Experiment Station 1997 69
Klamath Experiment Station
Sugarbeet Variety Evaluations in the Klamath Basin, 1997
Brillion ring-roller. About 0.35 inches
water was applied on May 3 with solid-set
sprinklers to provide ideal moisture for
germination.
Varieties were planted with a handoperated, one-row, Planet-Junior type
planter, on a flat seedbed on May 5. Seed
was planted approximately 0.5 inches deep
in 22-inch rows. Plots were two rows, 22
feet long, with four replications, arranged
in a randomized complete block design.
Seeding rate varied depending on seed
size, but in most varieties it ranged from 6
to 12 seeds/foot of row. Two border rows
were planted on the south side and one on
the north side of the experiment, and end
plots included 5-foot borders. Stands were
hand thinned to approximately 9-inch plant
spacing on June 6.
Weeds were controlled with 0.25 lb
a.i./acre Betamix Progress applied with a
conventional ground sprayer on May 20
and May 30, and with follow-up hand
weeding as necessary. Flea beetles were
controlled with carbaryl applied with the
herbicides at 1.0 lb a.i./acre. An application of 60 lb N/acre as Solution 32 on June
24 was immediately incorporated with 0.5
inches of irrigation. Total seasonal irrigation applied was 22 inches.
Beet tops were removed with a
rubber flail topper immediately before
harvest. Beets were lifted with one-row,
tool-bar mounted lifters and hand harvested on October 13. All beets from both
rows of each plot were counted and
weighed. Samples of 10 beets from one
row of each plot were sent to the Spreckels
Sugar Company factory at Mendota,
70 Klamath Experiment Station 1997
California, and analyzed for tare loss, sugar
content, and impurities. Total beet yields were
adjusted to account for tare loss determined in the
sample analysis.
Gross crop values were calculated for each
plot based on beet yield and price per ton for
beets at the observed sugar content, as determined
by terms of the Spreckels Sugar Company contract. The price/ton is described by the equation:
Price/ton = (3.518 x % sugar) - 15.4
for a net selling price of $24/cwt. Beet population,
beet yield, sugar content, total sugar production,
recoverable sugar, and gross crop value were
analyzed statistically using MSUSTAT software.
The 1997 data over locations were analyzed as a
split-plot design with location as the main plot
and variety as the split-plot. Three-year summary
data were analyzed as split-split-plots with year as
main plot, location as split-plot, and variety as the
split-split-plot. For individual locations, the threeyear analyses used a split-plot design with year as
the main plot. Least significant differences are
based on Student's t.
Procedures
IREC
The trial was conducted on Tulelake
National Wildlife Refuge leaselands on Tulebasin
fine silty loam soil with approximately 12 percent organic matter content, a highly fertile soil with
near neutral reaction. The previous crop was
spring barley. An application of 250 lb/acre of 1620-0 fertilizer was broadcast preplant. Beets were
seeded into 24-inch raised beds at 3.5-inch spacing with a modified, three-row cone planter on
April 14. Severe frost damage on May I and May
2 required replanting on May 7. Planting depth
was approximately 0.25 inches. Individual plots
were three rows, 50 feet long, arranged in a
Klamath Experiment Station
Sugarbeet Variety Evaluations in the Klamath Basin, 1997
randomized complete block design with four
replications.
Plants that survived the frost in early
May were killed with Roundup herbicide
applied with a ground sprayer on May 8. Weed
control was achieved with applications of
Betamix at 0.25 lb a.i./acre and UpBeet at
0.0156 lb a.i./acre on May 20 and May 29,
cultivation on May 25, and hand weeding
during thinning on June 10. Plants were
thinned to 7-inch spacing. An application of
Lorsban 4E at 2.0 pint/acre on June 6 provided
insect control. The crop received 22 inches of
irrigation water applied with solid-set sprinklers arranged in a 30- by 50-foot spacing.
Beet tops were removed with a flail
chopper immediately before harvest. Beets
were harvested on October 14 with a modified
one-row harvester. All beets from 45 feet of
the center row were weighed and counted.
Samples of approximately 25 lb/plot were
analyzed for tare loss, sugar content, and
impurities by Spreckels Sugar Company
laboratory personnel. Data were processed as
described above.
Results and Discussion
Stand loss from frost was experienced
at the IREC site in the first week of May in
both 1996 and 1997. Weather conditions were
excellent for crop establishment after May 2 in
1997. Emergence occurred in about 7 days at
KES. Plant populations were uniform at KES
except for three selections which had large
seed that did not feed through the planter well.
In the other varieties, harvested beet populations ranged from 30,500 to 34,000 beets/acre
(Table 1). Populations were slightly more
variable at IREC.
Average beet yields observed at KES
were 5 ton/acre higher than at IREC and
nearly 10 ton/acre higher than yields in the
1996 variety trial at KES. HM Bighorn, 96HX
405, 5KG 6907, and 96HX 401 were among
the highest in beet yield and gross crop value
at KES. Sugar content was lower than in most
previous years at KES. Large differences were
found between varieties. The lowest sugar
content (15.0 percent) was found in the
variety with the highest beet yield, 96HX 405.
Significant differences occurred in all parameters at KES.
At IREC, no significance was found in
any parameter at P= 0.05. Beet yields ranged
from a low of 26.2 to a high of 31.7 ton/acre.
Sugar content was higher and less variable at
IREC with a range from 17.4 to 19.0 percent
versus 15.0 to 18.7 percent at KES. The
differences between location were statistically
significant for all parameters except population. The interaction between variety and
location was significant at P = 0.01 for all
parameters except sugar content.
A 3-year summary of the performance
of 17 varieties at both locations is presented in
Table 2. Statistical significance was found for
all parameters at both locations and over
locations. The interaction between variety and
location was significant for sugar yield and
gross crop value (P = 0.017 and P = 0.018,
respectively) and nearly so (P = 0.055) for
beet yield. While several varieties performed
well at both locations, large location effects
were observed for others. HM Bighorn, 3BG
6360, and HH 88 ranked among the highest in
gross crop value at both locations.
Monohikari, Beta 4885, Beta 1996, and
Chinook have produced good yields at KES
Klamath Experiment Station 1997 71
Klamath Experiment Station
Sugarbeet Variety Evaluations in the Klamath Basin, 1997
but are at the bottom of IREC rankings.
The variety response to locations raises
the question of whether differences are due to
soil or micro-climate effects. Most sugarbeet
crops in the northern part of the area are
grown on mineral soils similar to the KES
soils. Most crops in the southern part of the
area are grown in high organic matter, reclaimed lake bed soils. However, some organic soils are used in the north and some
mineral soils are used for beet production in
the southern part of the area. Varietal comparisons at both soil types in northern and southern portions of the region may provide an
answer to this question. This would be very
useful for growers making variety-selection
decisions for fields with soils not representative of the research site nearest the field.
New varieties continue to be added to
the trials, and those with poor performance are
removed. Three selections have been evaluated for two years (Table 3). Each of these
produced higher sugar yields and gross values
than the trial means at IREC, and two were
better than trial means at KES in both years.
Low sugar content appears to be a serious
deficiency for 96HX 405, although beet yield
has been very high at both locations. First year
entries 5KG 6907 and 6D 43 performed well
at KES. and 5KG 6949 and 6D 43 achieved
high sugar yields at IREC.
Conclusions
As long as the Klamath Basin maintains freedom from curly top virus and other
serious diseases. the mix of varieties used for
commercial production of sugarbeets will
change slowly. Several of the most productive
72 Klamath Experiment Station 1997
and commonly grown varieties are very
susceptible to curly top virus, as was clearly
demonstrated in a 1992 trial conducted at
Susanville, California. Several varieties with
better disease resistance than some of the
currently popular varieties have produced
good yields at one or both research sites.
Table 1. Beet yield, sugar content, total sugar production, recoverable sugar, gross crop value, and plant population for 30 sugarbeet varieties
grown at Klamath Falls, OR, (KES) and Tulelake, CA, (IREC), 1997.
Sugar content Beet yield Variety
KES IREC Mean KES IREC Mean
ton /A
zzr
■t:)
Sugar production
KES IREC Mean
lb/A
0/0
Recoverable sugar Gross crop value
Population
KES IREC Mean KES IREC Mean KES IREC Mean
lb/A
$/A
1000 beets/A -
ACH2O3
ACH318
ACH9623
ACH9706
ACH9707
34.0 31.6 32.8
35.9 30.8 33.4
35.4 30.1 32.8
32.0 26.3 29.2
28.6 30.3 29.5
16.9
16.3
16.9
17.6
16.7
18.5
18.2
18.6
18.5
17.9
17.7
17.3
17.8
18.1
17.3
11490 11670 11580
11720 11180 11450
11880 11210 11550
11220 9730 10480
9490 10830 10160
10690 10950 10820
10770 10440 10610
11110 10570 10840
10450 9200 9830
8990 10210 9600
1500 1570 1540
1510 1490 1500
1560 1510 1540
1490 1310 1400
1230 1440 1340
34.0 31.6
31.3 27.9
31.3 36.5
32.7 27.0
20.4 32.7
32.8
29.6
33.9
29.9
26.6
Beta 1996
Beta 4885
Beta 8256
Beta 8422
KW 6000
3BG 6360
4 KG 5.83
5 KG 6'07
5 KG 6 49
6 D 43
6 N 50
33.6 26.4 30.0
35.7 27.0 31.4
35.2 28.8 32.0
34.8 29.8 32.3
36.7 27.6 32.2
33.7 30.7 32.2
34.1 31.4 32.8
38.7 28.5 33.6
32.2 30.6 31.4
35.1 30.5 32.8
32.8 28.9 30.9
18.0
17.6
17.2
16.8
17.4
17.5
17.5
16.9
17.3
18.1
18.7
18.5
18.0
18.8
18.4
18.5
18.8
18.5
18.0
18.8
19.0
19.0
18.3
17.8
18.0
17.6
18.0
18.2
18.0
17.5
18.1
18.6
18.9
12060 9710 10890
12490 9670 11080
12060 10790 11430
11230 10950 11090
12810 10230 11520
11790 11590 11690
11490 11630 11560
13070 10260 11670
11120 11540 11330
12680 11630 12160
12250 11010 11630
11330 9160 10250
11620 9060 10340
11200 10130 10670
10320 10280 10300
11890 9560 10730
10990 10850 10920
10720 10970 10850
12320 9650 10990
10320 10890 10610
11900 10960 11430
11560 10370 10970
1610 1300 1460
1650 1280 1470
1580 1450 1520
1520 1470 1500
1690 1370 1530
1560 1570 1570
1520 1560 1540
1700 1360 1530
1460 1560 1510
1690 1570 1630
1650 1490 1570
32.7
32.3
32.7
33.6
32.0
24.4
30.5
31.6
22.5
32.0
30.7
35.0
27.2
31.0
34.3
30.8
31.1
32.7
31.0
33.6
28.8
35.2
33.9
29.8
31.9
34.0
31.4
27.8
31.6
31.3
28.1
30.4
33.0
HM Bi horn
HM 70 6
BM Oa. is
HM Sic 'a
HM P 21
38.2 26.2
35.6 31.7
33.0 30.8
32.7 28.5
31.1 28.1
32.2
33.7
31.9
30.6
29.6
17.1
17.4
16.3
16.1
17.0
18.6
18.5
17.8
18.6
18.8
17.9
18.0
17.1
17.4
17.9
13050 9740 11400
12400 11740 12070
10720 10960 10840
10540 10590 10570
10530 10560 10550
12110 9210 10660
11520 11010 11270
10020 10260 10140
9630 10000 9820
9830 10040 9940
1710 1310 1510
1640 1580 1610
1380 1450 1420
1360 1420 1390
1380 1420 1400
32.0
33.6
32.2
32.4
34.0
30.5
34.0
32.6
29.8
35.7
31.3
33.8
32.4
31.1
34.9
5
rri
x
CD
5
rr
to
Es'
FS'
Table 1. (continued)Beet yield, sugar content, total sugar production, recoverable sugar, gross crop value, and plant population for 30
sugarbeet varieties grown at Klamath Falls, OR, (KES) and Tulelake, CA, (IREC), 1997.
Sugar content
Beet yield
Variety
KES
IREC Mean
KES
IREC
Mean
Sugar production
KES
%
ton/A
IREC
Mean
Recoverable sugar
KES
lb/A
11300
9930
16.6
17.6
17.1
31.1
34.0 28.2
18.2
12320 10450
18.4
31.5
17.9
HH 88
34.5 28.5
17.8
11580
9730
18.5
34.1 29.7
31.9
17.0
SS -T I
3
18.0
18.4
18.2
12800 10780
32.4
96H X401 0.9
35.5 29.3
16.2
11750 10380
15.0
17.4
96H X405
39.1 29.9
34.5
I 1 I-1 50
IREC
Mean
Gross crop value
KES
lb/A
10620
11390
10660
11790
11070
10540
11490
10810
12080
10540
9260
9800
9200
10130
9650
IREC
Population
Mean
KES
$/A
9900
10650
10010
11110
10100
1470
1630
1510
1700
1470
1310
1400
1310
1440
1360
IREC
Mean pi'
1000 beets/A 1390
1520
1410
1570
1420
32.8
32.0
32.6
29.8
30.1
33.4
32.1
34.1
34.1
31.5
32.7
32.4
32.5
32.0
36.1
36.9
33.8
29.7
30.4
28.4
28.7
30.0
33.3
32.7
31.3
29.9
16.7
16.2
16.8
16.8
18.2
18.1
17.9
18.2
17.5
17.2
17.4
17.5
12060
11910
11290
9940
11090
10280
10270
10930
11580
11100
10780
10440
11200
11030
10390
9200
10440
9730
9640
10320
10820
10380
10020
9760
1560
1530
1470
1290
1480
1370
1360
1469
1520
1450
1420
1380
32.8
32.4
31.9
31.3
33.3
31.4
32.2
29.9
33.1
31.9
32.1
30.6
34.4
Mean
CV (%)
5
LSD (P =.05) 2.5
29.3
10
NS
31.8
7
2.4
17.1
4
1.1
18.4
4
NS
17.7
4
0.7
11700
6
1010
10740
10
NS
11220
8
900
10890
7
1040
10100
10
NS
10490
8
NS
1530
7
160
1440
10
NS
1490
31.2
6
2.7
32.0
16
NS
31.6
12
NS
Monohikari
Chinook
Ranger
SX1404
8
NS
A)
4'
P
rfl
x
Ci
fD
1-
,
-t
-,.
n
P
fD
.-•
V)
r.
a)
..
C)
Table 2. Summary of sugarbeet variety performance at Klamath Falls, OR, (KES) and Tulelake, CA, (IREC), 1995 - 97.
Beet Yield
Variety
KES
IREC
Mean
KES
Sugar content
IREC Mean
KES
%
ton/A
Sugar yield
IREC
Mean
Gross crop value
IREC
Mean
KES
lb/A
$/A
ACH2O3
ACH318
29.4
30.8
29.5
30.4
29.5
30.6
18.2
17.4
18.9
18.1
18.5
17.8
10620
10660
11140
10920
10880
10790
1400
1390
1490
1440
1440
1410
Beta 1996
Beta 4885
Beta 8256
Beta 8422
KW 6000
3BG 6360
29.7
29.5
28.5
30.3
30.6
30.5
27.5
28.2
28.8
29.4
29.2
29.6
28.6
28.8
28.6
29.9
29.9
30.0
18.5
18.9
18.4
17.9
18.2
18.9
18.8
18.7
19.1
18.6
19.2
19.0
18.7
18.7
18.8
18.2
18.7
19.0
10990
11070
10980
10710
11110
11500
10410
10470
11000
10910
11210
11220
10700
10760
10680
10810
11160
11360
1470
1480
1370
1420
1460
1540
1390
1390
1470
1450
1500
1500
1430
1430
1420
1440
1480
1520
HM Bighorn
HM 7006
32.2
29.9
29.2
30.5
30.7
30.2
18.4
18.5
19.2
18.9
18.8
18.7
11750
10920
11230
11510
11490
11210
1560
1440
1510
1540
1530
1490
HH 50
HH 88
SS-T1
29.6
30.3
30.1
29.3
28.6
28.1
29.4
29.5
29.1
18.3
18.9
18.4
18.2
19.6
19.2
18.3
19.2
18.8
10790
11490
10990
10610
11180
10730
10700
11330
10860
1430
1530
1450
1400
1510
1440
1410
1520
1450
Monohikri
Chinook
Ranger
SX 1404
31.3
31.4
31
27.1
27.5
28.5
29.7
28.4
29.4
29.9
30.4
27.8
18.3
17.9
17.5
18.0
18.8
18.3
18.3
18.6
18.6
18.1
17.9
18.3
11410
11130
10820
9720
10340
10410
10860
10580
10870
10770
10840
10140
1510
1460
1410
1270
1380
1370
1430
1410
1440
1420
1420
1340
Mean
CV (%)
LSD ( P = 0.05)
30.1
9
2.1
29
9
2
29.6
9
1.5
18.3
5
0.7
18.8
4
0.6
18.5
5
0.5
10980
9
780
10870
9
760
10900
9
540
1450
10
110
1450
9
110
1450
10
80
Klamath Experiment Station
Table 3. Two-year summary of performance of three sugarbeet varieties grown at Klamath Falls,
OR. (KES) and Tulelake, CA. (IREC), 1996-97.
Variety
Beet
Sugar
Sugar
Recoverable
yield
content
yield
sugar
Gross
value
ton/A
%
lb/A
lb/A
$/A
KES
ACH 9623
33.3
18.3
12040
11250
1620
96 HX 401
33.2
19.2
12660
12000
1720
96 HX 405
35.3
16.2
11300
10250
1450
31.7
18.2
11410
10660
1520
Trial Mean
'
IREC
ACH 9623
29.9
19.3
11510
10810
1570
96 HX 401
29.2
19.3
11260
10610
1530
96 HX 405
32.0
17.8
11400
10660
1510
28.5
19.1
10850
10220
1470
Trial Mean
1/
76
'
Mean for all entries in the 1996 and 1997 coded trials.
Klamath Experiment Station 1997