74
system occurred. Whereas, sugar beet yield losses were 7% and water saving was
22% under drip system irrigation. Mehanna et al. (2017) found that 33% saving in
the applied irrigation water reduced sugar beet yield by 18%. Eid and Ibrahim
(2010) tested the effect of saving 17% of the applied irrigation water to sugar beet
grown under surface irrigation in salt affected soil, where fresh water was used to
irrigate it and they found that percentage of yield reduction was 14%.
4.3.3 Irrigation Water Savings Techniques for Sugar Beet
4.3.3.1 Traditional Cultivation of Sugar Beet
Table 4.8 presented the collected data of cultivated area and productivity of sugar
beet in the old and new lands on governorate level, as well as the calculated values
of the required irrigation water. The table indicated that the highest cultivated area
of sugar beet in Lower Egypt existed in Kafr El-Sheik governorate, i.e. 53.2 thousand hectares in the old lands. This is due to the suitability of sugar beet to the prevailing salt affected soil in this governorate. In Middle Egypt, the highest cultivated
area existed in Fayoum governorate, namely 12.8 thousand hectares in the old lands.
In Upper Egypt, sugar beet was cultivated in only two governorates, Assuit and New
Valley. In the new lands, the highest cultivated area existed in Sharkia governorate
in Lower Egypt, i.e. 13.9 thousand hectares. Similarly, the highest cultivated area in
Middle and Upper Egypt were found in Minia and New Valley governorates, namely
4.5 and 0.8 thousand hectares.
The total cultivated area of the old and new lands were 158.4 and 58.7 thousand
hectares, respectively. These areas produced 8019.4 and 2803.4 million ton of sugar
beet in the old and new lands, respectively and consumed 1351.0 and 350.8 million
cubic meters of irrigation water in the old and new lands, respectively (Table 4.8).
Table 4.9 showed that highest cultivated area of sugar beet was obtained from
Karf El Sheik in Lower Egypt and from Beni Sweif in Middle Egypt. Furthermore,
Upper Egypt and the bordered governorates, Assuit and Marsa Matrouh had the
largest cultivated areas, respectively. The table also showed that the total cultivated
area of sugar beet was 217.0 thousand hectares, produced 10,822.8 million tons of
sugar beet and consumed 1701.9 billion cubic meters of irrigation water. According
to Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (2018), the national production of sugar beet in 2017 was enough for local consumption.
4.3.3.2 Cultivation on Raised Beds
Malik et al. (2018) indicated that sugar beet grown on raised beds consumed 80%
of the applied water under furrow cultivation and the yield was increased by 17%.
Thus, an assumption was made that cultivation of sugar beet on raised beds will
increase its yield by 15% and save 20% of its water requirements in the old lands
S. Ouda et al.
system occurred. Whereas, sugar beet yield losses were 7% and water saving was
22% under drip system irrigation. Mehanna et al. (2017) found that 33% saving in
the applied irrigation water reduced sugar beet yield by 18%. Eid and Ibrahim
(2010) tested the effect of saving 17% of the applied irrigation water to sugar beet
grown under surface irrigation in salt affected soil, where fresh water was used to
irrigate it and they found that percentage of yield reduction was 14%.
4.3.3 Irrigation Water Savings Techniques for Sugar Beet
4.3.3.1 Traditional Cultivation of Sugar Beet
Table 4.8 presented the collected data of cultivated area and productivity of sugar
beet in the old and new lands on governorate level, as well as the calculated values
of the required irrigation water. The table indicated that the highest cultivated area
of sugar beet in Lower Egypt existed in Kafr El-Sheik governorate, i.e. 53.2 thousand hectares in the old lands. This is due to the suitability of sugar beet to the prevailing salt affected soil in this governorate. In Middle Egypt, the highest cultivated
area existed in Fayoum governorate, namely 12.8 thousand hectares in the old lands.
In Upper Egypt, sugar beet was cultivated in only two governorates, Assuit and New
Valley. In the new lands, the highest cultivated area existed in Sharkia governorate
in Lower Egypt, i.e. 13.9 thousand hectares. Similarly, the highest cultivated area in
Middle and Upper Egypt were found in Minia and New Valley governorates, namely
4.5 and 0.8 thousand hectares.
The total cultivated area of the old and new lands were 158.4 and 58.7 thousand
hectares, respectively. These areas produced 8019.4 and 2803.4 million ton of sugar
beet in the old and new lands, respectively and consumed 1351.0 and 350.8 million
cubic meters of irrigation water in the old and new lands, respectively (Table 4.8).
Table 4.9 showed that highest cultivated area of sugar beet was obtained from
Karf El Sheik in Lower Egypt and from Beni Sweif in Middle Egypt. Furthermore,
Upper Egypt and the bordered governorates, Assuit and Marsa Matrouh had the
largest cultivated areas, respectively. The table also showed that the total cultivated
area of sugar beet was 217.0 thousand hectares, produced 10,822.8 million tons of
sugar beet and consumed 1701.9 billion cubic meters of irrigation water. According
to Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (2018), the national production of sugar beet in 2017 was enough for local consumption.
4.3.3.2 Cultivation on Raised Beds
Malik et al. (2018) indicated that sugar beet grown on raised beds consumed 80%
of the applied water under furrow cultivation and the yield was increased by 17%.
Thus, an assumption was made that cultivation of sugar beet on raised beds will
increase its yield by 15% and save 20% of its water requirements in the old lands
S. Ouda et al.