EFFECT OF SEED-SOAKING IN POLY ETHYLENE GLYCOL AND HUMIC ACID ON THE PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF FODDER BEET UNDER SOIL SALINITY CONDITIONS.

Two field experiments were conducted at El-Serw Agricultural Experiment and Research Station, during two successive winter seasons 2011/2012 and 2012/ 2013, to study the effect of soaking seeds in solutions of poly ethylene glycol (PEG) and humic acid (HA) on growth, yield, and nutrients contents of fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L. (vorochenger) grown in newly reclaimed saline soils conditions. Results showed positive effects of soaked seeds compared to the un-soaked seeds. At soaking time 12 h, the increases due to HA treatments were greater than those attributed to PEG. Soil pH was almost unchanged, the EC values were decreased by 3٥٫٥٪ and 37٫99٪ while soil available NPK were increased by 28٫٤٤٪ and 33٫٦٥٪ for N; by 11٫28٪ and 9٦٫2٤٪ for P while K was increased by 13٫1٤٪ and 18٫٥٪ for both PEG and HA treatments respectively compared with the control. The fresh and dry weights of root were increased by 133٫3٪ and 13٦٫8٦٪, respectively, for PEG treatments. For HA treatments, the increases in the above mentioned characteristics amounted 1٥٥٫2٦٪ and 1٦1٫٦3٪, respectively. Root length and diameter were enhanced significantly. the increases in roots N content amounted 21٫7٤ and 29٫٥٪, P by 37٫88 and ٥0٪, K by 7٫82 and 12٫3٥٪ and Protein by 21٫71 and 2٦٫٦3٪ for PEG and HA, respectively. The leaves chlorophyll content (Chl) was increased by 8٤٫٤3٪ and 1٥٦٫٥1٪ and emergence by 3٦٫3٦٪ and ٤2٫1٥٪ while the proline decreased by 1٦٫07٪ and 2٥٫71٪ for PEG and HA, respectively.