WATER USE EFFICIENCY ON ACCLIMATIZATION AND INCREASING SUGAR BEET PRODUCTIVITY UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS CONDITIONS

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons at Sahl El –Tina region, North Sinai Governorate, Egypt, to study the response of sugar beet plant grown under irrigation interval (control "3 weeks", 4 weeks, 5 weeks), cultivated either by transplanting or direct seed sowing and five treatments as soil drench (potassium humate (4 & 8gl-1), potassium silicate (4 & 8gl-1) and control). The effect of these treatments on the growth and chemical composition of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). Were investigated the treatments were distributed in a split-split plot design where irrigation intervals in the main plot, planting methods in the sub-main plot and soil drench in the sub sub-main plot. Statistical analysis was carried out and least significant of difference was calculated. The results indicated that transplanting method was more drought tolerant with higher acclimatizing than direct seed sowing because transplanting significantly exceeded direct seed sowing in all of growth parameter, yield, yield components, mineral ions (K, P, Ca and Mg), proline, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, total sugar, transpiration and stomatal conductanes. Also transplanting methods recorded higher in water use efficiency than seed sowing.