Evaluation of Soil Limitations Effects on Sugar Beet Production under Centre Pivot Irrigation System, (Case Study in Menya governorate)

Abstract

Egypt suffers a negative gap between sugar production and demand consumption. Therefore to minimize the gap, it is necessary to expand the area planted with sugar beet in the newly reclaimed soils, especially those cultivated under modern irrigation technology in Menya governorate. Soil limitation factors such as topography (t), wetness (w), physical soil characteristics (s), soil fertility characteristics (f), salinity, and alkalinity (n) are the main factors effective on sugar beet productivity. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of soil limitations degree on sugar beet yield. According to obtained results of beet yield production, it's summarized to three groups related to soil limitation degree as follows: the first group soils has highest yield production with an average of 115.9 MT/ha, related to best quality parameters, the second has medium crop with an average of 89.3 MT/ha, associated to medium suitability of soil limitations such as topography and soil salinity, then the third group contains the lowest an average of 66.9 MT/ha, related to medium and severe limitations, like shallow profiles and sandstone rock. The current study aimed to identify and effect of specific site properties on beet yield productivity according to intensity of soil limitation, in west Menya governorate.