Influence of Foliar Application with Micronutrients on Productivity of Three Sugar Beet Cultivars under Drip Irrigation in Sandy Soils

Two field experiments were conducted at the Desert Experimental Station of the Fac. of Agric., Cairo Univ. in Wadi El-Natroon, during 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons to study the response of sugar beet yield and some of its attributes in three multigerm seed cultivars, viz. Heba, Ninagri and Halawa under drip irrigation in a split plot design to foliar application with zinc (Zn) + Manganese (Mn) + Iron (Fe) + Boron (B). The mixture of micronutrients was applied at three different concentrations, viz. 50 Zn + 50 Mn + 50 Fe + 500 B (C ), 100 Zn + 100 Mn + 100 Fe + 1000 B (C ) and 150 Zn + 150 Mn + 150 Fe + 1500 B (C ) in ppm/L, as well as, 1 2 3 the control treatment of distilled water (C ). The results revealed that increasing micronutrients mixture from 0 C level up to C level significantly increased root weight by 21.54% and 23.81%, root yield by 28.00% and 0 3 24.40% and sugar yield by 76.50% and 60.61% in the first and second seasons, respectively. Quality traits, in terms of total soluble solids (TSS), sucrose%, purity% and extractable sucrose% were significantly increased by increasing levels of micronutrients in both seasons. The highest values of such traits resulted from C level. 3 The sugar beet cultivar Halawa recorded the highest and significant values of mean root weight (0.93 and 0.98 kg), root yield (23.52 and 24.34 ton/fed.), extractable sucrose% (14.04 and 13.59%) and sugar yield (3.34 and 3.35 ton/fed.) in the first and second seasons, respectively. The interaction between micronutrients and cultivars was significant for mean root weight, root yield, purity%, extractable sucrose% and sugar yield in both seasons. Spraying cultivar Halawa with C and/or C level was recommended for high root and sugar yields. 2 3