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Sugar beet is a two-year root crop of the family Beta, widely used for sugar production and as fodder. The plant forms a conical root with firm white flesh and basal leaves forming a rosette. Modern varieties contain 17–20% sugar, ensuring high yields of 35–45 tons per hectare or more. The roots have good storability and transportability, which is important for storage and transportation.

Sugar beet is a cold-tolerant and sun-loving crop, requiring moderately fertile soil with optimal pH in the range of 6.5–7.5. The plant responds well to soil liming and prefers semi-rotted fertilizers, whereas fresh manure may deteriorate root quality. Proper moisture regime is crucial for successful cultivation: the crop requires moisture especially during seed germination and root growth, but excessive moisture before harvest may cause spoilage and reduce sugar content.

Sugar beet is sown in open ground; the optimal temperature for seed germination is +10–12°C, and for growth and development — +20–22°C. Seeds are sown at a depth of 6–7 cm when soil temperature reaches 6–8°C, with a seeding rate of 2–10 kg per hectare and plant density of 85–100 thousand plants per hectare. Winter sowing improves cultivation efficiency. Beet is sensitive to frost; seedlings die at -4–5°C, so climate conditions must be carefully considered during cultivation.