Abstract
Effects of transplanting and agronomic treatments (plant arrangement, plant population, sowing date) on partitioning of dry matter were investigated on crops of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. cv. Amazon) during 1981/82 and 1982/83 seasons at Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand. The mean ratio for the transplanted beet was about 16% in 1981/82 and 18% in 1982/83 higher than for the seed-sown beet at the final harvest. The mid-August sowing had about 14% higher root: shoot ratio over the mid-September sowing at the final harvest. The plants established at the 4- leaf stage were superior to those at the 2-lcaf stage or the cotyledon stage for the root: shoot ratio in both the seasons. The mean ratio for the 4-leaf transplants was about 8% in 1981/82 and 18% in 1982/83 higher than the 2-leaf transplants at the final harvest. The ratio was similar for both plant arrangements and plant populations, indicating that the proportion of dry matter in the roots was not affected adversely by the treatments
