EFFECT OF FARM WASTES AND TOWN REFUSE COMPOSTS WITH BORON APPLICATION ON SUGAR BEET PRODUCTION UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF SOIL AND SALINE WATER AT RAS SUDR, SOUTH SINAI

Abstract

Two field experiments were done in the two successive winter seasons of 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 in the experimental farm of the Desert Research Center at Ras Sudr, South Sinai Governorate, to study the effect of nine compost production from {animal waste (10, 20 and 30 m3/fed.), town refuse (10, 20 and 30 m3/fed.) and plant waste (10, 20 and 30 m3/fed.} and three rates foliar application of boron (control, 0.4 and 0.6 g/L.) and their interaction on growth, yield and chemical composition of sugar beet. The experiments were laid out in a split plot design with four replications. The main results obtained were as follow: 1- There were a significant differences in growth characters i.e. leaf area, root length, root diameter and total soluble solids percentage (T.S.5%), root fresh and dry weight / plant, top fresh and dry weight / plant and fresh and dry yield of roots and tops of sugar beet between the tested sources of different compost types during both seasons. The highest values of growth characters and yield were recorded in plants treated with 30 m3 / fed. animal waste in the first and second seasons. The lowest value was obtained from 10 m3 / fed. town refuse in two growing seasons. There were significant differences in sucrose % , juice purity %, crude protein %, boron mg / kg, zinc mg / kg, copper mg / kg, cadmium mg/ kg and lead mg / kg in roots of sugar beet among the tested sources of different compost types during first and second seasons. In this regard, the highest values of crude protein percentage were recorded in plants treated with 30 m3/fed. animal waste and the lowest value was attained by using 10 m3/fed. town refuse in the two seasons. While, the highest value of juice purity % was obtained by using 30 m3 / fed. animal waste and 10 m3 / fed. town refuse at the first and second seasons, respectively. The highest values of sucrose percentage and juice purity % were obtained by plants treated with 10 m3/fed. Town refuse and the lowest value was attained by using 30 m3/fed. Animal waste in the two seasons. Applying 30 m3 town refuse / fed. gave the highest value of boron in the first and second seasons. Application of 30 m3 / fed. town refuse gave the highest value of zinc, cadmium and lead in both seasons, while 30 m3 / fed from animal waste in the first season and with 30 m3 / fed from town refuse in the second season gave the highest value of copper.