Effect of Phosphorus Levels on Growth, Yield and Economic Returns of Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) in the Balaghat Region of Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

This study aimed to explore how different levels of phosphorus influence the growth, yield and economics of the beetroot variety Golden Lalima conducted at the Horticulture Department's field within the School of Agriculture Science, Technology and Research at Sardar Patel University in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, during the Kharif season of 2023. The experiment utilized a Randomized Block Design (RBD) featuring eight treatments, each replicated three times. The findings from this investigation indicated that the treatment T5, which included nitrogen at 120 kg/ha, phosphorus at 180 kg/ha, and potassium at 100 kg/ha, significantly enhanced vegetative growth, achieving a plant height of 52.93 cm at harvest and an average of 23.33 leaves per plant. Additionally, it positively impacted yield attributes, with a root length of 13.58 cm, a root diameter of 7.69 cm, a root weight of 192.77 grams and a root yield of 30.05 tons per hectare. T5 also yielded the highest net return and an impressive benefit-cost ratio of 3.08. Therefore, applying phosphorus at a rate of 180 kg/ha is recommended to boost crop productivity and improve the overall quality of beetroot in the Balaghat region.