OTI sugar beet is a biennial plant, forming an elongated root with dense white pulp and a basal leaf rosette in the first year of cultivation. This crop is highly heat-loving and heat-tolerant, with an optimal growing temperature of 20-22°C, although photosynthesis occurs effectively even at temperatures above 40°C. OTI sugar beet seeds germinate within a temperature range of +4 to +17°C; the time to emergence is directly dependent on temperature, varying from 10 to 15 days. During the pre-harvest period, the plant can withstand frosts down to -5°C without damage to sugar accumulation, but lower temperatures may adversely affect crop quality.
To successfully cultivate the OTI variety, proper soil care and fertilizer application are required. The optimal soil pH level should be between 5.5-7.5, and the soil structure must ensure good aeration and density. Mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus play a crucial role in plant nutrition, promoting intensive growth and root development. Additionally, the crop requires trace elements such as magnesium, sulfur, boron, and manganese for full development.
OTI sugar beet requires sufficient moisture, especially during the intensive growth phase of the roots in July-August. Thanks to a well-developed root system capable of absorbing water to a depth of 2.5 meters, the plant exhibits good drought resistance. From sugar beet roots, not only sugar but valuable by-products are obtained: pulp, molasses, and deffecate. Molasses is used in the production of alcohol, glycerin, citric acid, and yeast; pulp serves as nutritious animal feed; and deffecate is applied as an effective fertilizer, making the crop economically viable and environmentally valuable.
