Altay

Altay is a classic diploid hybrid sugar beet, designed for high yields and increased sugar content. This hybrid is characterized by genetically enhanced sugar content, reaching up to 18.3%, making it an effective raw material for the sugar industry. Altay is distinguished by high root yield, which can reach 87.5 tons per hectare, confirming its economic attractiveness for agricultural production. The recommended seeding rate is 1.4 seeding units per hectare, which is optimal for achieving maximum productivity.

The hybrid is resistant to several common sugar beet diseases, including aphanomyces root rot, cercosporosis, rhizomania, and powdery mildew. This trait significantly reduces the risk of crop losses and decreases the need for intensive chemical protection. Altay is suitable for early planting and can be successfully grown in various climatic zones of Ukraine, such as Polissia, Forest-Steppe, and Steppe, thereby expanding its application possibilities.

Sugar beet, to which Altay belongs, is an important crop of the temperate zone, requiring specific conditions for optimal growth. Seeds germinate at temperatures from 5 to 15 °C, and the optimal temperature for plant growth is 20–22 °C. The best soils for cultivation are chernozems, providing necessary nutrients. In addition to use in the sugar industry, beet is valued as a fodder crop due to its high feed units and digestible protein content in roots. By-products of processing, such as beet pulp, molasses, and manure, find application in animal feed and soil fertilization.