Two field experiments were carried out at Kafr El-Hamam Research Station, Zagazig district, Sharkia Governorate, Agricultural Research Center during 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasons to study the effect of sowing methods (manual and mechanical), weed control treatments (one hand hoeing, Goltix 70 WG (metamitron) as herbicide, Goltix + one hand hoeing and two hand hoeing) and nitrogen fertilizer levels (60, 80 and 100 kg N/fed) on growth of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cv. Hanrike as well as weeds characters.
The obtained results could be summarized as follows:
1. Mechanical sowing method of sugar beet by planter machine significantly surpassed the traditional sowing method (manual) in all studied growth and minimized weed characters in both seasons.
2. Controlling weeds associated with sugar beet plants by two hand hoeings before the second and the third irrigations significantly recorded the highest values of studied growth attributes and minimized weed characters in both seasons. While, using Goltix 70 WG (metamitron) as herbicide + one hand hoeing before second irrigation came in the second rank in this respect in both seasons. On the other hand, the lowest values of all growth attributes and weed characters were resulted from the control treatment (one hand hoeing) in both seasons.
3. Fertilizing sugar beet plants with 100 kg N/fed significantly increased all studied growth and weed characters and markedly recorded the highest values of these characters in both seasons. However, application of 60 kg N/fed produced the lowest values of all studied characters in the two growing seasons.
From the obtained data in this study, it can be concluded that sowing sugar beet using mechanical sowing method (planter machine), controlling weeds by hand hoeing at two times and mineral fertilizing with 100 kg N/fed could be recommended in order to maximize its growth attributes and reduce weed growth under the environmental conditions of Sharkia Governorate.
Two field experiments were carried out at Kafr El-Hamam Research Station, Zagazig district, Sharkia Governorate, Agricultural Research Center during 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasons to study the effect of sowing methods (manual and mechanical), weed control treatments (one hand hoeing, Goltix 70 WG (metamitron) as herbicide, Goltix + one hand hoeing and two hand hoeing) and nitrogen fertilizer levels (60, 80 and 100 kg N/fed) on growth of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cv. Hanrike as well as weeds characters.
The obtained results could be summarized as follows:
1.Mechanical sowing method of sugar beet by planter machine significantly surpassed the traditional sowing method (manual) in all studied growth and minimized weed characters in both seasons.
2.Controlling weeds associated with sugar beet plants by two hand hoeings before the second and the third irrigations significantly recorded the highest values of studied growth attributes and minimized weed characters in both seasons. While, using Goltix 70 WG (metamitron) as herbicide + one hand hoeing before second irrigation came in the second rank in this respect in both seasons. On the other hand, the lowest values of all growth attributes and weed characters were resulted from the control treatment (one hand hoeing) in both seasons.
3.Fertilizing sugar beet plants with 100 kg N/fed significantly increased all studied growth and weed characters and markedly recorded the highest values of these characters in both seasons. However, application of 60 kg N/fed produced the lowest values of all studied characters in the two growing seasons.
From the obtained data in this study, it can be concluded that sowing sugar beet using mechanical sowing method (planter machine), controlling weeds by hand hoeing at two times and mineral fertilizing with 100 kg N/fed could be recommended in order to maximize its growth attributes and reduce weed growth under the environmental conditions of Sharkia Governorate.