Effect of some nutrients on yield and composition of sugar beet grown in highly calcareous soil

This work is undertaken on sugar beets grown in a field experiment of calcareous soil at El-Nobaria area, Egypt. Three rates of P, K and Zn were used, where P was added before cultivation and K was added in two equal doses after 30 and 45 days from cultivation, while zinc was added foliarly after 30, 45 and 60 days from cultivation. The results showed that the yield of leaves, roots and total sugars of sugar beets increased significantly with the application of Zn, P and K, whether added solely or in combination. The most adequate combination treatment was Zn2 P1 K2, i.e. 0.5% Zn SO4 + 100 kg triplephosphate + 200 kg potassium sulphate/fed. The concentration of the studied elements in roots and leaves varied with treatments depending on the type and combination of nutrients. Considering the soil chemically extractable elements, data revealed that their contents increased with increasing application, with the exception of Zn which is nearly unchanged due to its foliar application.