Effect of Sandy Soil Amendment with Filter Mud Cake on Growth and Some EcoPhysiological Parameters of Daucus carota and Beta vulgaris Plants

Abstract

Sand culture technique was employed to investigate the effect of filter mud cake (FMC) from Qus sugarcane factory as fertilizer on water content, dry matter, chlorophylls content and some carbon and nitrogen metabolites in carrot (Daucus carota) and beet (Beta vulgaris) plants. The investigations were carried out under natural conditions using the FMC of Qus sugarcane factory at Qena governorate. The FMC was mixed with sand soil at three levels: 10%, 30% and 50%. The sand soil was used without FMC as control. Results revealed that the amendment of soil with FMC slightly reduced pH of soil and increased electric conductivity (EC), organic matter (O.M), total nitrogen and organic carbon (O.C) with increasing the FMC level. Dry mass and water content of both tested plants increased significantly by FMC treatment as comparing with control plants. The investigated plants grown on soil amended with FMC levels showed highly significant increase in both chlorophylls content a and b than in control plants in both experimental plants. Whereas chlorophyll a/b ratio and proline content was decreased signifi-cantly. Results indicated also that the soluble sugars, proteins and total amino acids were increased significantly by FMC application in both experimental plants comparing with those grown in unlamented soil. It can be concluded that application of FMC as fertilizer improved the physico-chemical properties of the reclaimed soil to be more suitable for cultivation.