Sugar beet genotype response to soil compaction stress

Eleven sugar beet genotypes were tested for their performance under differe nt soil compaction levels. The genotypes used were three inbreds, three com mercial varieties widely cropped in Greece, four experimental hybrid variet ies and two multigerm OP lines. The experiment was conducted in pots in gla sshouse. Pots were filled with soil and after placing the seed at a depth o f 3 cm, the compaction pressure was applied. Two soil types, two initial so il water contents and seven pressure levels ranging from a minimum pressure up to 400 kPa were the factors studied in a randomised complete block expe riment with four replications. Results showed that sugar beet is sensitive to compaction although low compaction pressures (less than 200 kPa) seemed to be beneficial. From the genotypes tested inbreds were more sensitive to pressure effects than hybrids. Differences among hybrid varieties were obse rved indicating that response to soil compaction effect could be genotypica lly affected. This was further confirmed by the different response between the multigerm open polinated varieties (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.