Irrigation and Drainage 137 
vary with a number of factors, the most important of 
which are the depth and texture of the soil. A light 
irrigation of one to two inches would be ample for a 
shallow sandy soil, whereas five or six inches might well 
be given a deep loam or clay. It must be kept in mind 
that the beet is a deep-rooted plant and that sufficient 
moisture should be added to moisten the land as deeply 
as the roots penetrate. Where the soil is suitable, a few 
rather heavy irrigations have given better results than 
many small ones. The reverse is true for potatoes. 
Relation of irrigation to size, shape, one quality of beets. 
(Figs. 14-21.) 
Many tests have been made to —- the effect of 
irrigation water on the nature of the beets. These tests 
@ Yield roots 
Yield tops 
(2 
Yield in tons perocre 
10} } 10) | 10) 101] 51] 751] 0S} | 5] | 20 
z 
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Water opplied 
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Fic. 15. — Effect of irrigation at different stages on yield of beets and 
tops. Utah. 
