Root ( Sugar Beet)

Question 1

Soil

Answer 1

Deep

Well drained

PH 6.5- 7.0

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

⬇️ levels of rain @ sowing and harvest

Sun in summer

Question 3

Crop rotation

Answer 3

1/3 yrs

Question 4

Seed bed

Answer 4

Plough 25cm 30cm

DEEP fine sand bed

No forcing

Question 5

Sowing

Answer 5

Early = longer growing season

Avoid frost sow let match early April

Précision seeder

Seeds are pelleted

Target 80k plants/ha

Question 6

Fertiliser

Answer 6

N P K appied

Baron prevents heat rot

Sodium

Manganese

Question 7

Weed control

Answer 7

Contact and residual herbicide between sowing and full leaf cover

Shading

Crop rotation

Growth encouragement

Question 8

Diseases

Answer 8

Virus ( yellows) - huge yield loss keep aphids out

Fungal ( mildew / black leg)

Deficiency - lack of boron equals heart rot

Question 9

Storage

Answer 9

In hard surface

Clamped up to 2 m high

Protected from frost as it reduces sugar content

Question 10

Pests

Answer 10

Eel worm - Crop rotation

Aphids - transmit viral diseases

Question 11

Harvest

Answer 11

Sugar beet harvesters

Lifts and tops beet

Roots in trailer

Tops left in field ❌ oxalic acid cause scour Let wilt for week tops wilt acid will to * limit amount given to animals

Question 12

Yield

Answer 12

40-60t/ha Roots

30t/ha Tops

Sugar content 14-18%