Irrigation and Fertilization Management of Successive Cultivated Sugar Beet and Cotton under Salt-Affected Soil Conditions

Abstract

Two field trials were carried out at the experimental farm, Sakha agricultural research station, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt during two successive growing seasons. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of applied mineral and organic fertilizers under water stress on the physical, chemical and fertility of the soil properties as well as the productivity of sugar beet and cotton. The main investigated factors included irrigation treatments at 80,100 and120%, respectively evaporation from standard class A evaporation pan. The fertilization treatments included applying N-fertilizer at three rates of 100, 80 and 60 % N from recommended dose in combination with compost. Two levels of potassium humate (i.e., 12and 24kg ha-1) were also applied. The results showed that studied soil chemical, physical properties and its fertility parameters were significantly influenced by the individual treatments and recorded highest values due to the interaction among studied treatments after sugar beet and cotton cultivation. The yield of sugar beet and cotton crops were significantly increased and recorded the highest values at the interaction of highest levels of treatments. Therefore, the irrigation and fertilization management could be considered a proper approach to sustain the soil and water resources in particular under arid and semi-arid regions. Further studies are needed for more and novel approaches in handling the salt-affected soils