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Abstract
Salinity combined with a deficiency of potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) negatively affect sugar beet yield and quality. A two-year (2017/18–2018/19) field trial was undertaken to investigate the mediating role of soil-applied K [120 (K120) and 180 (K180) kg ha−1] and foliar-applied Zn [0 (Zn0), 150 (Zn150), and 300 (Zn300) ppm] in alleviating salt-stress (8.60 dS m−1) based on sugar beet morpho-physiological responses, sugar yield and quality, and K-use efficiency in the BTS 301 and Kawemira cultivars. Application of K180 × Zn300 was more effective and resulted in 23.39 and 37.78% higher root yield (RY) and pure sugar yield (PSY), respectively, compared to control (K120 × Zn0). It also enhanced sucrose, pure sugar (PS), and purity but decreased impurities (α-amino N, K, and Na), alkalinity index, and sugar loss. However, the K120 × Zn300 recorded higher K-use efficiency. PSY correlated positively (r = 0.776 **, 0.629 **, 0.602 **, 0.549 **, and 0.513 **) with RY, root fresh weight (RFW), top yield, PS, and root diameter, respectively. The stepwise and path-coefficient analysis demonstrated that RY, PS, and RFW were the most influential PSY-affected attributes. Integration of K180 + Zn300 can correct K and Zn deficiencies in the soil and mitigate salt-stress effects via improving sugar beet growth, yield and quality, and K-use efficiency.
Highlights
Sugar beet, scientifically known as Beta vulgaris (L.), is a strategic crop in the sugar industries and commerce terms and is typically grown in warm and Mediterranean climates, supplying 42 million MT (~30%) of pure sugar requirements worldwide [1]
Sugar beet morpho-physiological responses were progressively increased by increasing the rates of Zn applied as foliar sprays (Table 3)
Our results revealed that K application, K180, singly or in interactions (Tables 4 and 5 and Tables S2 and S3), improved the quality of industrial sugar by increasing sucrose, pure sugar (PS), and purity and reducing non-sugar impurities (i.e., Na, K, and α-amino N) and loss sugar (LS) in salt-stressed sugar beet plants
Summary
Scientifically known as Beta vulgaris (L.), is a strategic crop in the sugar industries and commerce terms and is typically grown in warm and Mediterranean climates, supplying 42 million MT (~30%) of pure sugar requirements worldwide [1]. 30–40% lower than that of sugarcane, which makes it the ideal sugar crop for cultivation in diverse environments, especially the dry areas suffering from water scarcity in the world [3]. Sugar beet contributes nearly 59% of total sugar production (2.3 million MT) compared to 41% of sugar cane [4]. There is a large area of agricultural land equal to more than 800 million hectares (i.e., more than 6%) that suffers from salinity, in arid and semi-arid environments, including Egypt [6]. Soil solutions containing Na+ and Cl− ions due to high salinity cause osmotic stress, ionic imbalance, nutrient uptake antagonism
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