Preliminary studies on the Performance of Granulated Compound Fertilizers on Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Grown in Calcareous Soils of Egypt

This study assessed the impact of Conventional Farmer Practice (CFP), Conventional Fertilizers, Ministry of Agriculture recommendations (CF,MoA rec) , and Compound Fertilizers (CFs) on soil fertility, yield, and quality of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) grown in calcareous soils of the Orabi region, of Alexandria - Egypt, over the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 winter seasons. Baseline soils were clay loam, alkaline (pH > 8.3), highly calcareous (CaCO3 > 29%), and low in organic matter (1.51–1.65%). CFs application reduced soil pH and EC, increased organic matter, and enhanced N, P, K, and micronutrient availability compared with CF, MoA rec and CFP. CFs increased total root yield by 8–9% over CF, MoA rec and 22–23% over CFP, while improving sucrose content, Brix values, and reducing Na and α-amino N levels in roots. Leaf nutrient content of N, P, and K was also significantly higher under CFs. The results demonstrate that CFs fertilizers can overcome nutrient limitations in calcareous soils, improving both productivity and quality of sugar beet, and offer a sustainable alternative for fertilization in the calcareous soils of northwest of Egypt.