Effect of Saline Irrigation Water on Growth and Productivity Growth of Sugar Beet (<i>Beta vulgaris</i> L.) under Nano Irrigation (Case of Moistube)

Abstract

New technologies have been developed to maximize agricultural production with rational use of water resources, especially salt water. We conducted field experiments using either the Nano Irrigation system or the drip irrigation system on sandy loam soil to examine the response of sugar beet to different levels of saline irrigation water. Replicates (n = 4) of elementary plots, 4 m wide × 5 m long with two irrigation water salinity treatments (S1 = 1.6 dS m−1, S2 = 6.3 dS m−1), were established in a factorial design under Nano Irrigation. Soil chemical properties and morphological and physiological parameters of sugar beet were measured over two sampling periods. Irrigation with saline water resulted in proline accumulation in leaves and decreased chlorophyll content, leaf area, and root yield. The results suggest that irrigation water of 6 dS m−1 could be used to obtain an acceptable root biomass yield without significant short-term salinity issues in the cultivated soil.

Keywords

• biosaline agriculture
• salt stress
• sugar beet
• Nano Irrigation