Sugar beet of the Extra variety is a warm-loving and heat-tolerant two-year root crop of the family of water lilies, widely used for sugar and feed production. The plant forms a root crop with firm white flesh and basal leaves forming a rosette. Modern varieties, including Extra, contain 18-20% sugar, ensuring high sugar content and good commercial qualities. Beet is characterized by good storability and transportability, which is important for storage and transport of the harvest.
The optimal temperature for seed germination is +10-12°C, and for growth and development — 20-22°C, while photosynthetic activity remains even at temperatures above 40°C. Seedlings are sensitive to frost and die at -4-5°C. Sugar beet prefers bright conditions and is moderately demanding on soil fertility, responding well to half-rotted fertilizers, while fresh manure reduces root crop quality. Winter sowing contributes to high cultivation efficiency.
The crop requires significant moisture, especially during the intensive root crop growth period in July-August. Due to its well-developed root system, capable of absorbing water from depths of about 2.5 meters, beet is drought-resistant, although water deficiency leads to increased nitrogen content in the roots. Excessive moisture before harvest negatively affects the preservation and sugar content of the harvest. Moreover, sugar beet is a valuable feed: 100 kg of roots contain 25 feed units and 1.2 kg of digestible protein, while tops provide 20 feed units and 2.2 kg of digestible protein.
