Summary

Sugar beet is one of the most important root crops in the mid-European latitude area, and the most important source for sugar production. Sugar became a staple food over the past two centuries, and average annual consumption per head is now about 20 kg. Worldwide demand continues to rise, and approaches 140 Mt per year. This comes from only two plants: sugarcane and sugar beet. To meet increasing needs, all aspects of how to produce these crops efficiently have been widely researched, and work continues rapidly in all countries where they are grown.

Sugar beet has long been grown as a summer crop in the relatively cool northern parts of the temperate zones of the world and thus within the densely populated, well-developed areas where much of the product is consumed. More recently it has been grown as a winter crop in the southern parts of the temperate zones: South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Europe. In contrast, sugarcane can be grown only in tropical or subtropical regions.The growing period of sugar beet from sowing to harvesting is 170-200 days. A good yield of sugar beet roots is obtained when the climate has been mild throughout the growing period. A good sucrose content in the sugar beet roots is secured when the last period of growth is cold. In the case of a winter crop, the ripening period is in the warm season, and the ripening of the beet is promoted by withholding water to the beet. Sugar beet requires a well-distributed precipitation of about 24 inches (610 mm) from January to October. If the precipitation is deficient, the crop must be irrigated. Sugar beet is grown in various soils, ranging from sandy loam to heavy clay. An ideal soil is loam rich in humus, deep and homogeneous, having appropriate adhesion and mild moisture-holding capacity. Sugar beet is grown from seed, typically sown early in spring. The seedbed is prepared by deep plowing after the preceding crop is harvested in autumn, and early the next spring it is shallow plowed, stamped, and harrowed.

The wastes and by-products of the sugar production process are important materials in animal feed, distillation and biogas production industry branches. The costs of sugar beet production are mainly the results of high fertilizer doses, special cultivation equipment and good soil culture necessary to ensure the proper management of the plantation. Farmers deciding to start sugar beet production must be experienced specialist farmers.

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