Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of biofertilizer, matured
compost, mineral-N and their combinations on sugar beet varieties (Beta vulgaris L.).
Ten sugar beet varieties growing on clay loam soil were employed. Seven treatments1
control, bio-fertilizer (SF), 20.0 tons feddan -, of compost (OM), 60 kg N feddan"
mineral-N, and SF with half of OM andlor of N feddan'", Root weight, yield, total
soluble solids % (TSS%) sucrose % as well as morphological parameters of root and
leaves were determined. The compost composition and soil properties were analyzed.
The results indicated that the studied characters of sugar beet were increased
significantly by 'the use of the 8F, OM, N and their combinations. The integration of
the three types of fertilizers showed positive effects on root yield and quality under the
studied conditions. Comparing the combinations of the fertilizer types with SF, OM
and N alone, the first surpassed the second in root yield by 37.70,31.04 and 24.99%
but only 7.18, 6.65 and 5.47% in sucrose %, respectively. Results revealed that the
highest mean value of sucrose % (17.63) and TSS % (22.09) was obtained by bio-
fertilizer plus mineral-N, while the highest root yield (24.36 tonsl feddan ) was
obtained by the combination of SF, OM and mineral-N.
The results indicated that the varieties varied significantl~ due to the treatments. The
highest root weight was 2042.69 and 1821.68 g plant' obtained for Cawmera and
Pamela, respectively. The two varieties showed the same trend, but Pamela
surpassed Cawmera in root yield (tons/feddan ) under the studied conditions.
However, Cawmera was superior compared with Pamela for sucrose % and TSS %.
Deprase-poly variety had the highest values of sucrose % and TSS %. Des-poly
variety produced the lowest values of root weight and yield whereas; Hi-poly produced
the lowest sucrose % and TSS%.
The present investigation indicated that all interactions for the all studied characters of
sugar beet were significant among fertilization x cultivars x seasons except the root
weight (g/plant). The interaction among seasons x fert. treatments was not significant
for root yield, leaves fresh weight and leaf blade width (em), while the other characters
of leaves and roots, TSS% and sucrose% were proven to be significant.
The results, however, recommend that the best means of maintaining the soil
fertility would be achieved through periodic addition of bio-fertilizer in combination with
proper compost plus mineral-N fertilizer.