Effect of Mineral and Bio-organic Fertilizers on Sugar beet Growth under Semi-Arid Zone

The study was conducted in season 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 at the College of Agricultural Studies Farm, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Shambat, Khartoum State, Sudan. The main objective of this study was to improve the growth of sugar beet by using different types of minerals and bio-organic fertilizers application in a semi arid zone. The experiment was arranged in randomised complete block design (RCBD) with four replication and nine treatments. The experimental treatments were as follows Control, Compost application 20 t/ha, nitrogen as urea 190 kg/ha, phosphorus as super phosphates 88 kg/ha, inoculation with Azotobacter spp. and Mycorrhizal fungi and their combinations with nitrogen and phosphorus. Statistical analysis (Mstat) was used to test the effects of treatments on different parameters. The results revealed that application of different fertilizer treatments in two seasons had effect on sugar beet leaves number, shoot fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight and shoot to root ratio, without significant differences between the treatments. Application of compost and nitrogen treatments alone showed significant differences in sugar beet root fresh and dry weights compared to that of the control in first season. In the second season application of nitrogen and combination with phosphorus and mycorrhiza showed increase growth parameters compared to the control and other treatments.