Sugar beet of the S 2364 F variety is a biennial plant that in the first year of cultivation forms an elongated rootstock with a hard white pulp and a rosette of leaves at the base. This crop is one of the most productive among industrial plants due to the high sugar content in the rootstocks. In addition to sugar production, sugar beet is used to produce pulp, molasses, defectate, and ethanol. Molasses is used in the production of alcohol, glycerin, citric acid, and yeast; defectate serves as a valuable fertilizer, while pulp is nutritious feed for cattle. Ethanol obtained from sugar beet can serve as alternative fuel, replacing diesel fuel.
The crop is heat-loving and heat-resistant; the optimal temperature for growth and development is 20-22°C, but photosynthesis proceeds effectively even at temperatures above 40°C. Sugar beet requires sufficient moisture, especially during the intensive growth of rootstocks in July-August. Thanks to a well-developed root system capable of absorbing water up to 2.5 meters deep, the plant has good drought resistance. Sugar beet seeds germinate in a wide temperature range from +4 to 17°C, while the time of seedling emergence depends directly on the temperature. In autumn, the crop can withstand frosts up to -5°C without damaging sugar accumulation, but lower temperatures can have a negative effect on this process.
Sugar beet is a major sugar-yielding crop of the temperate zone and is widely used not only for sugar production but also as a fodder crop. In 100 kg of rootstocks, there are about 25 feed units and 1.2 kg of digestible protein, while the tops provide an additional 20 feed units and 2.2 kg of digestible protein. This makes sugar beet a valuable component in animal husbandry, providing a nutritional base for feeding livestock.
