Agronomy of sugarbeet cultivation-A review

Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.), generally considered as a crop of temperate region, is spreading to subtropical countries where it can be grown successfully during winter season. It is having growth period of about half of sugarcane but productivity per unit time is higher and requires less water than sugarcane. Many environmental and agronomic factors influence sugar beet yield and quality. Thus to harness maximum benefits from sugarbeet, there is need to select the most appropriate varieties, planting time, planting methods, planting density, sowing depth, providing adequate crop nutrition and irrigation schedule. For successful production of sugarbeet under subtropical environmental conditions there is need to evaluate the performance of different varieties under subtropical Indian conditions. Planting dates has a vital role for germination, growth, yield and root quality of sugarbeet plants. Sugarbeet emerge faster when air and soil temperature ranges between 15–25°C, thus sowing date should be adjusted accordingly to coincide with given range of temperature. Performance of the crop is likely to be greatly influenced by method of sowing, plant density and depth of sowing. Better growth and higher yields can be achieved by two-rows-bed planting technique, plant density of 12 plants m⁻² and at the 1.25 and 2.5 cm planting depths. Proper combinations of farm yard manure and inorganic fertilizers should be worked out to derive the best possible advantage of inputs. Under Punjab conditions sugarbeet responded up to 120 kg/ha of nitrogen on high organic carbon loam soil testing high in available N. Potassium fertilizers increase both leaf number and length as well as chlorophyll content. Both sources of potassium i.e. KCl and K₂SO₄ had a positive effect on sugarbeet growth and development. Crop yields can suffer from either under or over irrigation. Irrigation scheduled at 75 and 50 mm evaporation produced the highest yield of sugarbeet.