Response of Some Sugar Beet Varieties to Nitrogen and Zinc Application in Sandy Soil

Abstract

WO field experiments were carried out in sandy soil at Wady El-Natron, Beheira Governorate, Egypt , at (30° 23' 09'' N: 30° 25' 31'' E. 23 m above sea level) in 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons to evaluate the performance of three sugar beet varieties and their response to different levels of nitrogen and zinc fertilization, on growth, yield, and quality. The present work included twenty-seven treatments, which were the combinations of three multi-germ sugar beet varieties namely Aladdin, Lulu and Zoom; three nitrogen levels (70, 95 and 120 kg/fed) and three levels of zinc (zero, 2.25 and 4.50 g/L zinc sulphate). Randomized complete block design in a split-split plot arrangement was used. The results showed that the Zoom variety outperformed the other ones, producing the thickest and heaviest roots with the highest sucrose, extracted sugar percentages, root, top and sugar yields/fed, in both seasons. Fertilizing beets with 120 kg N/fed increased root diameter, fresh weight/plant, LAI, root, top and sugar yields/fed, in both seasons. Adding 95 kg N/fed produced the highest extracted sugar, sucrose percentages and quality index, in both seasons. Spraying beets with 4.50 g/L zinc gave the highest values of root diameter, sucrose and extracted sugar percentages, root, top, and sugar yields/fed, in both seasons. The highest values of root diameter, root and sugar yields/fed were obtained by fertilizing the Zoom variety with 120 kg N/fed and spraying 4.50 g/L zinc sulphate.