Effect of herbicide and mineral fertilizer combination on enhancing yield and sugar content of sugar beet roots under unstable moisture conditions

Abstract

Introduction. The intensifying impacts of climate change, coupled with the limited availability of essential resources, present obstacles to the sustainable cultivation of sugar beet in Southern Russia. Addressing these challenges necessitates the development of strategic farming techniques that can reliably improve both yield and sugar quality. However, a significant research gap remains the lack of comprehensive solutions regarding the interaction between plant nutrition and protection system components.
Aim. To evaluate the synergistic effect of the combined application of herbicide and mineral fertilizers on the productivity and quality of sugar beet roots cultivated in a zone of unstable moisture.
Materials and methods. The research was conducted in 2023-2024 at the Agrokomplex JSC named after N.I. Tkachev, located in the Vyselkovsky Municipal District of Krasnodar Krai, using the FD Sokol sugar beet hybrid. A two-factor field experiment was established, comprising three mineral nutrition treatments (control, recommended, and calculated rate) and four application rates of the herbicide Drever, EC (0, 1.0, 1.3, 1.5 L/ha). Yield and sugar content were assessed using standard methodologies.
Results. A pronounced synergistic effect was revealed from the combined application of mineral fertilizers and the herbicide. The optimal combination—the calculated fertilizer rate (N₁₄₀P₁₄₉K₁₂₆) and the herbicide at a dose of 1.5 L/ha—achieved the maximum performance indicators: a yield of 40.5 t/ha and a sugar content of 18.6%. Economic analysis confirmed the high efficiency of this treatment, with a profitability of 94.9%.
Conclusion. It was established that the integrated application of mineral fertilizers and the herbicide Drever, EC is a highly effective method for increasing the productivity and sugar content of sugar beet roots in zones of unstable moisture. The results of this work can be adapted not only for Krasnodar Krai but also for regions with other soil and climatic conditions. A promising direction for future research is the study of the efficacy of this combination (fertilizer + herbicide) on other sugar beet hybrids. 

To cite: Ozheredova A.Yu., Grishchenko A.A., Pismennaya E.V., Loshakov A.V. Effect of herbicide and mineral fertilizer combination on enhancing yield and sugar content of sugar beet roots under unstable moisture conditions. Agrarian Bulletin of the North Caucasus. 2025;15(4):79-89. https://doi.org/10.31279/2949-4796-2025-15-4-79-89