Effects of filter mud applications on growth, physiological characteristics, and nutrient transfer pattern of sugar beet seedlings

Abstract

Filter mud is an industrial waste produced by sugar crops during the sugar production process, which contains N, P, K, organic matter, and a variety of trace elements required for plant growth. Therefore, a soil cultivation experiment was devised to verify the effects of applying diverse proportions of filter mud on the growth and physiological variations of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris) seedlings. For this study, sugar mill filter mud equivalent to 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, 9%, 11%, and 13% of the dry weight of neutral black soil was used. Sugar beet seeds were planted in soil with filter mud and their growth, nutrient, and physiological indexes are measured after they grew into sugar beet seedlings. After the application of filter mud, the growth status of sugar beet seedlings increased significantly compared to the non-application of filter mud. Soil application of filter mud increases the content of inorganic N, available P, available K, and organic matter in the soil. And the most pronounced growth of sugar beet seedlings was achieved at 7% of the applied filter mud. In addition, the content of chlorophyll, transpiration rate, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity all increased significantly. As a result, it was determined that filter mud from sugar beet waste was an effective soil improver material, a certain percentage of filter mud can promote the growth of sugar beet seedlings. This has important implications for the improvement of sugar beet yields and the recycling of agricultural wastes.