Yield and Quality of Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) Varieties in Inner Terai Area of Sindhuli, Nepal

A field experiment was conducted in the Horticulture Farm of the College of Natural Resource Management, Kapilakot, Sindhuli, Nepal, from November 2019 to January 2020 to evaluate the effect of growth, yield and quality of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) varieties. The experiment was laid out in a single-factor randomized complete block design with four replications consisting of nine beetroot varieties, i.e., Detriot Dark Red, Jhelum, Action, Ruby Red, Ruby Queen, Maharaja, Madhur, Red Express-505, and Bikores. Results of this study indicated a significant effect of varieties on the measured parameters. During harvest, a significantly higher plant height (43.4 cm), number of leaves per plant (14.47), leaf length (40.91 cm), and leaf width (12.42 cm) were observed in the variety ‘Action’, which was followed by ‘Red Express 505’ and ‘Madhur’. Total root length (14.37 cm) was found longest in Red Express-505. However, edible root length (9.95 cm) and beetroot diameter (70.81 mm) were found to be higher in Action than in other tested varieties. Likewise, higher economic yield (36.76 t ha−1) and biological yield (57.06 t ha−1) were also recorded in the Action variety compared to other varieties. Root dry matter (9.95 %) and leaf dry matter (9.07%) were highest in Action. However, total soluble solids were found significantly higher in (10.970 Brix) in the Ruby Queen variety. Likewise, the colour, taste and overall acceptability were highest in the Ruby Red variety of beetroot. Therefore, based on the results of the experiment, variety Action was better for optimum yield and Ruby Queen and Ruby Red for quality beetroot production in the inner Terai area of Sindhuli, Nepal.