COMPARISON OF ROOT QUALITY PARAMETERS OF DIFFERENT SUGAR BEET VARIETIES

Abstract

During processing, harmful nitrogen is an important indicator of the technical quality of the sugar beet raw material. The amount of sugar loss in molasses and the crystallization of white sugar depends on the amount of alpha-amino nitrogen. The amount of potassium and sodium in sugar beet could effect the quantity of white sugar. These non-sugar substances increase the amount of molasses and reduce the sugar yield. The quality of root crops during the sugar production process varies from year to year and depends on various factors. Some of the main factors are meteorological conditions, place of cultivation, breed etc. According to the order of AB „Nordic Sugar Kėdainiai“, the research was carried out in 2020, 2021 at the Lithuanian Agricultural and Forestry Center (LAMMC) Rumokai trial station (Klausuciai village, Vilkaviskis district). The purpose of the experiment was to evaluate and compare the amounts of alpha – amino nitrogen, as well potassium and sodium in sugar beet of varieties 'Lavenda, KWS', 'Selma KWS', 'Stingray' and 'Badger'. Amounts of Alpha-amino nitrogen were determined by the ICUMSA method, and amount of potassium and sodium were determined by the flame photometric method. During this study, slightly higher alpha - amino nitrogen content was determined in root crops of sugar beet varieties 'Lavenda, KWS' and 'Selma, KWS' and the significantly smallest am ount of potassium and sodium were determined in the roots of 'Stingray' and 'Selma, KWS' varieties grown in neutral, low and medium humus content, medium nitrogen content, high and very high phosphorous content, calcareous simple leached soil (IDg8-p) in moderate loam, and during the growing season with more rainfall in different months of sugar beet vegetation period.