Bio-nitrogen Fertilization and Leaf Defoliation Increased Yield and Quality of Sugar Beet

Abstract

Background and Objective: Bio-nitrogen fertilization and leaf defoliation are the important management practices which influence the yield and quality of sugar beet. To know the effect of bio-nitrogen fertilization and leaf defoliation on the growth yield traits, yield and quality of sugar beet (cv. farida), a experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of Sakha Agric. Res. Station, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, during 2014/15 and 2015/16 growing seasons. Materials and Methods: A split plot design with three replicates was used, where main plots were assigned for four bio-nitrogen fertilizer levels (100 and 75 kg N fedG 1 +Rhizobacterine, 50 kg N fedG 1 +Rhizobacterine and Rhizobacterine only), while sub-plots were allocated to three leaf defoliation levels (zero, 25 and 50%). Results: The result of study revealed that 100 and 75 kg N fedG 1 +Rhizobacterine produced the highest values of root length, root diameter, root yields, top yields and sugar yields/fed and enhanced the quality of sugar beet. In addition, the root and sugar yields increased with decreasing defoliation levels. However, no significant effect from defoliation treatments on sugar beet quality was observed under in this study. Conclusion: Inoculation of Rhizobacterine with 75 kg N fedG 1 and 25% defoliation are advised to use for increasing sugar beet yield.