It is well established that sugar content of sugar beet increases as the plant
reaches the biological maturity stage. This means that the sugar beet plant
must be left in the field to complete its growth. Farmers are usually concerned
with the hig
hest yield of sugar beet roots regardless of their content of sugar,
but sugar-processing companies are concerned mainly with the amount of
sugar extracted from a certain weight of roots, in addition to the purity of the
sugary juice.
Farmers normally receives the price of their sugar beat crop based on the
sugar content of the crop. Thus, in this type of farming, biological control is a
worldwide-procedure.
Biological maturity depends on ways of yield formation and a close control
of the mechanisms of forming yield components (no. of roots / unit area;
average root weigh; average sugar content) which require a detailed study of
the characters of the grown cultivar and the overall conditions of the growing
area.
Results showed that harvesting of sugar beet sown in fall season befor the
plant completes it’s growing cycle (in June) results in a big yield in addition to a
reduction in sugar content in the roots which inturn results in a big loss in the
national economy.
Results indicated that delaying date of harvest up to ١٨th of July markedly
increased root and sugar yield as well as sugar content in the beet roots.
Increasing nitrogen rate up to ٤٠٠ kg / ha resulted in a marked increase in root
and sugar yield / ha . On the other hand, sucrose content gradually decreased
with excess nitrogen. Higher plant density (more than ١٠٠,٠٠٠ plants /ha)
enforce for late harvesting in comparison with other densities for at least ١٠
days to obtain high yield of roots and sugar.
