Shalaby, G.A.; E.S. El-Gizawy and B.M. Abou El-Magd( 2012). Effect Of Mineral Nitrogenous Fertilization And Compost Tea On Insect Infestation Of Sugar Beet And Yield CharacteristicsJ. Plant Prot. And Path., Mans. Univ., Vol. 3 (8): 825-834, 2012
Abstract: Field experiments were carried out at the experimental farm of Sakha Agricultural Research Station during 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons. Three levels of mineral nitrogenous fertilizers and/or different treatments of compost tea were evaluated as affecting on insect infestation in sugar beet, as well as fertilizer effect on yield and yield characteristics. Infestation by Pegomia mixta Vill, Scrobipalpa ocellatella Boyd and Cassida vittata Vill were significantly highest at 90 kg N/fed as compared with lower doses (60 or 75 kg N/fed). Compost tea treatments induced lower infestation by the aforementioned insects as compared with the check (control). Compost tea used as soil drench (30 L/fed.), applied 40 days after sowing, followed by foliar application of compost tea at 60, 90 and 120 DAS (20 L/fed) proved to be the best treatment against insect infestations. The combination of the latter treatment with the application of 60 kg N/fed resulted in the lowest infestation of sugar beet insects. In contrast, the highest infestation with pest complex (P. mixta, S. ocellatella and C. vittata) resulted from the application of 90 kg N/fed in plots free from compost tea. Compost tea treatment induced significantly high percentages of sugar, purity, and sugar beet extractability, root yield and sugar yield but produced the lowest levels of sodium, potassium and -amino nitrogen as compared with plots free from the compost tea. From the current results, it could be recommended to use compost tea, particularly as soil drench (30 L/fed) at 40 days after sowing, followed by foliar spray of compost tea (20 L/fed) at 60, 90 and 120 days after sowing. This application was superior in enhancing sugar beet yield and yield components, as well as in reducing insect infestation. It also confirmed that compost tea can be used as organic substrate additives in plant cultivation and substitute for chemical nitrogen fertilizers.
Keywords: (Compost tea; Sugar beet; insect infestation; foliar application; Nitrogenous fertilizer; Juice quality.)
