Effect of Mole Drain Spacing, Some Soil Amendments and Boron Fertilization on Improving some Soil Properties and Sugar beet Productivity in Salt-Affected Soils

Abstract

Soil salinity and poor drainage are affecting soil properties and hence limiting crop productivity. Poor productivity and increasing population make a great food gap. So increasing soil productivity is important to address food gap. Two field trials were carried out at El-Reyadh district, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt during two successive seasons (2018-2019). This study aims to investigate the impact of mole drain spacing and some soil amendments on the physical and chemical soil properties and its fertility as well as applying boron fertilization on sugarbeet productivity. Split-split plot design was implemented. The main plots were occupied by mole drain spacing: at 3 distances i.e.: 3, 6 and 9 meters. The subplots were assigned to amendments with 3 combinations i.e.: (G,C and G+C). The sub-sub plots were assigned to foliar with boric acid with 3 levels i.e.: B1, (without boron), B2 (200ppm boron) and B3 (400ppm boron) application. The results showed that the soil values (ECe) , (ESP), (BD), total porosity, soil basic infiltration rate and its fertility parameters (available NPK) were significantly influenced by the treatments and recorded highest values due to the interaction among studied treatments after sugar beet harvesting. The results showed that (G+C) treatment with 3m mole spacing alleviated the hazardous effects of salinity stress on sugar beet yield. The root yield of sugar beet and sugar yield was significantly increased and recorded the highest values with the interaction S1*(G+C)*B3.Therefore, Integrated soil management through soil conservation and some amendments and Boron could be considered a proper approach to sustain soil properties and improve its productivity and increase sugar beet productivity under arid and semi-arid conditions.