The usage of low quality water is an obligative alternate on some Fayoum soils. Such waters would cause salinity and/or sodicity problems that can decrease crop yield. The current study aimed at investigating the implications of using such a water for irrigating sugar beet grown on a sodic soil at two levels i.e. 100% W.R. and 75% of the water requirement (WR) under furrow and drip systems. Three soil amendments i.e. organic manure, phospho-gypsum and humic acid were tried solely or in combination on the investigated soil. Results reveal that irrigation use efficiency (IUE) under 75% of WR was lower than the corresponding one under 100% WR. This parameter was, on the other hand, higher during second growing season than the first one which guarantee sustaining production of sugar beet in the area of study. Amending soil with organic manure, phospho-gypsum and humic acid caused further increases in root yields and IEU values exceeding the effects of the combination treatments. Furthermore, the economical returns under 100% of water requirement was higher than under 75% of WR, especially under the drip system. Sugar beet accumulated Na in high concentrations in its roots, hence cultivation of sugar beet can be used as a technique for bio-reclamation of soil sodicity under water scarcity. It is recommended therefore to amend soil with phospho-gypsum and use drip system for irrigating sugar beet plants with 100% of WR for higher economical returns and, at the same time, keeping soil against sodicity deterioration. |
