Root Yield and Quality of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in Response to Foliar Application with Urea, Zinc and Manganese in Newly Reclaimed Sandy Soil

This study was carried out during two winter seasons 2007/08 and 2008/09 in the Experimental Station of National Research Center, Nobaryia, Beheira Governorate, Egypt in order to investigate the response of root yield and quality of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) to foliar application with Urea, Zn and Mn in newly reclaimed sandy soil. Application of 2% Urea, 400 ppm Zn or Mn as sole treatment increased root length and diameter as well as fresh root weigh by 22.89, 70.08 and 157.66 % for Urea compared to control treatment, respectively and by 37.16, 87.08 and 207.66 % for Zn and by 10.50, 59.55 and 185.25 % for Mn as compared to control treatment, respectively. The highest fresh root weight (2.045 kg/plant) was obtained by using 2% Urea +400 ppm Zn followed by the treatment received 2% Urea +400 ppm Zn + 400 ppm Mn. On the contrary, the lowest root fresh weight (0.522 and 1.345 kg/plant) was obtained with control plants and the treatment received 2 % Urea alone. Root and top yields were significantly increased with the treatments received 2% Urea+ 400 ppm Zn + 400ppm Mn, 2% Urea+ 400 ppm Zn and 2% Urea + 400 ppm Mn in comparison to control or the other treatments. The highest root and top yields (57.240 and 32.507 t/ha) was obtained with the treatment 2% Urea+ 400 ppm Zn + 400 ppm, while the lowest (15.059 and 6.176 t/ha) and (23.800 and 7.040 t/ha) with 2% Urea as sole treatment compared with control treatment, respectively. The same trend was noticed in sugar yield (t/ha), cleared that foliar application with 2% Urea+ 400 ppm Zn + 400 ppm Mn produced the highest sugar yield (2.460 t/ha) followed by 2% Urea+ 400 ppm Zn (1. 936 t/ha), while the lowest (0.521 and 0.712 t/ha) was obtained by control and 2% Urea, respectively. The results also indicated that the sucrose % in the Juice was increased with applying 2% Urea, 400 ppm Zn or Mn singly and also in combination with them as one treatment in comparison to control treatment. However, application of 2% Urea+ 400 ppm Zn + 400 ppm Mn produced the highest sucrose in the juice (18.96 %) followed by 2% Urea+ 400 ppm Zn (17.44 %), while the lowest (14.42 %) was obtained without applications (control). TSS% was decreased with applying 2% Urea as single treatment followed by the treatment of 2% Urea +400 Zn or Mn. Purity % was increased up to 87.20 % with foliar spraying with 2% Urea+ 400 ppm Zn followed by (83.64 %) with 2% Urea+ 400 ppm Zn + 400 ppm Mn. On the other hand, the lowest purity (60.08 %) was obtained by control treatment. Na and K contents were increased with applying Urea, Zn and Mn as foliar spray in comparison to control treatment. The treatment of 2% Urea+ 400 ppm Zn + 400 ppm Mn recorded the highest Na and K content, while the lowest was recorded with control and 400 ppm Mn.