Response assessment of some sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivars to organic fertilizers treatments under South Sinai conditions

Abstract

Sugar beet is considered the leading crop in the arid sugar field in Egypt, and the main goal of this study is to increase the production of sugar varieties in those areas with efficiency, especially since its cultivation is still the most suitable for the region. To achieve this goal, a research experiment was conducted in the development area in South Sinai Governorate for four varieties of sugar beets (Casupia -Salama -Sahar -Faten) with three applications of organic fertilization (0, 5, 10 tons/fad). The experiment was carried out in a split plot design, with a randomized complete block system with four replications, for three agricultural seasons (2019/2020, 2020/2021, and 2021/2022). Field data was taken for 16 morphological and productive characters of sugar beets as indicators to detect the level of productivity under the conditions of the ecosystem of the Al-Tur region in South Sinai. The results of the experiment resulted in the Salama variety being significantly superior to the other studied varieties by 8.5%. It also became clear that organic fertilization had a significant impact on facilitating the absorption of elements and reducing salt stress, considering that under organic fertilization rates, the Salama variety gave the highest productivity with organic fertilization at a rate of 10 ton/fad, and productivity increased by 167% over the variety, Casupia without using organic fertilization. Accordingly, the study recommended the need to use the Salama variety under organic fertilization conditions at a rate of 10 ton/fad, which contributes to improving sustainable sugar beet production in the Al-Tur region, South Sinai, Egypt, and places with comparable ecological characteristics.