EFFECT OF IRRIGATION WATER QUANTITY, SOURCES AND RATES OF NITROGEN ON GROWTH AND QUALITY Of SUGAR BEET

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out at Sakha Agric. Res. Station, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt during 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 seasons, to study the effect of three irrigation water quantity (3000, 2500 and 2000m3), four nitrogen sources (Urea 46.5% N, Ammonium sulfate 20.6% N, Ammonium nitrate 33.5% N and Anhydrous ammonia 82% N) and three nitrogen rates (70, 80 and 90kg N/fed.) on growth yield and quality of sugar beet c.v.Gloriuf . The experiments were laid out in split plot design with four replications. The obtained results indicated that decreasing amount of irrigation water from 3000m3 to 2500 and 2000m3 caused reduction in root fresh weight, α amino nitrogen and potassium% .On the other hand, reducing irrigation level from 3000m3 to 2500 and 2000m3 increased root length , sodium percentage as well as purity percentage . Sugar beet plants received anhydrous ammonia gave the highest values of root length, root fresh weight , potassium and purity percentage , on the other hand, it gave the lowest values of α amino nitrogen and Sodium percentage. Sugar beet plants fertilized with nitrogen fertilizer at the rate of 90kg N/fed. gave the highest values of root length , root fresh weight , potassium percentage and α amino nitrogen percentage, while the highest values of sodium percentage and purity percentage were recorded with plants received nitrogen fertilizer at the rate of 70kg N/fed. as compared with other nitrogen fertilizer rates . At all irrigation levels nitrogen fertilizer application in the form of anhydrous ammonia gave the highest values of root length, root fresh weight, potassium% and purity%, but it gave the lowest values of α amino nitrogen% and sodium percentage .At the highest water regime (2000m3/fed.) raising nitrogen fertilizer from 70 to 90kg N/fed. increased root length , root fresh weight , α amino nitrogen% and potassium% , on the contrary the highest Na and purity% were found with 70kg N/fed. At all nitrogen fertilizer rates plants received nitrogen in the form of anhydrous ammonia gave the highest values of root length, root fresh weight and purity%, on the other hand, this treatment gave the lowest values of α amino nitrogen % percentage and sodium percentage . At the highest water regime (2000m3/fed.) plants fertilized by nitrogen fertilizer at the rate of 90kg N/fed. in the form of anhydrous ammonia gave the longest root , heaviest roots, potassium percentage and purity percentage, on the contrary it gave the lowest α amino nitrogen percentage ,sodium percentage. Generally, it could be concluded that when the shortage of irrigation water was presented, fertilizing sugar beet plants with nitrogen fertilizer in the form of anhydrous ammonia at the rate of 90kg N/fed. improved growth and root juice quality of sugar beet plants at Sakha Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate conditions.