Sugar Beet Cultivation Technologies: Experience of TOV ‘Shamrayivsky Sugar Plant’
In the crop rotation structure of TOV ‘Shamrayivsky Sugar Plant’, sugar beets occupy about 1500 hectares annually. This is not only the foundation for supplying the sugar plant with raw materials but also a safety reserve for the enterprise. A stable harvest on this area guarantees the rhythmic operation of the enterprise, and that is why the agronomists here bear great responsibility. Moisture is a key factor for all crops, but it holds particular significance for sugar beets. Typically, the average annual precipitation norm is 500 mm; however, the uneven distribution of moisture throughout the season often complicates agronomic operations. There are periods of prolonged drought, and sometimes a month’s worth of precipitation falls within a short time.
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“In our area, we cannot influence precipitation, but we can preserve the field’s potential by timing the sowing correctly and applying nutrients,” says Oleksandr.
Choosing the Sowing Date and Technical Equipment
Determining the optimal sowing date for sugar beets depends on a complex of factors: the temperature of the upper soil layer, its structure, and surface color. If the temperature at a depth of 10 cm is below +6–7°C, the soil is plastic or clumpy, and the surface is dark and waterlogged, the field is not considered ready for sowing. The chief agronomist emphasizes that there is no need to rush with sowing, even if neighbors have already started. Last year, for example, oats were sown on March 5, and sugar beets on March 30; this season, the dates have shifted. It is important to complete sowing within 10 days to ensure that sufficient moisture remains in the soil for the germination of seeds sown at a depth of 2–2.5 cm. Violating this timeframe leads to uneven emergence and reduced yield. Other crops – sunflowers, corn, soybeans – are also sown within tight timelines, focusing on the accuracy of the equipment and the power of the machinery. The enterprise uses Väderstad seeders (Tempo L24, Tempo L16, two Väderstad Spirit 800S) and John Deere tractors. As a result, it is possible to sow 150–160 hectares of sugar beets, sunflowers, and corn per day – up to 200 hectares even under challenging conditions, such as during air alerts.
Nutrient Systems and Hybrid Selection
To ensure accessible moisture, the enterprise prefers liquid fertilizers, which are considered more effective and accessible than granular ones, especially during dry periods. For this purpose, seeders have been equipped with systems for applying starter liquid fertilizers, and a Case IH Ecolo Tiger 530 subsoiler and John Deere 2210 cultivator have been added. The main nutrient element is nitrogen in the form of ammonia water, while phosphorus and potassium are applied based on soil analysis in small doses at temperatures not exceeding +16–18°C and under conditions of sufficient moisture. The depth of liquid fertilizer application is 20 cm, with a row spacing of 35 cm, and the norm is 120–150 kg/ha. In the case of sunflowers, urea is sometimes used, which is placed 5 cm to the side and 10 cm below the seedbed during sowing.
The selection of hybrids at the enterprise is approached meticulously. A stable line of Betaseed hybrids for sugar beets has been established, which is updated annually after testing. A pyramidal ripening scheme is used: early, medium, and late hybrids allow for earlier processing and a uniform load on the plant. Late hybrids are selected for their resistance to cercospora.
Production trials of corn hybrids were conducted in the FAO range of 230–360, with the best results shown by hybrids in the FAO 280–330 range. For sunflowers, hybrids P64LL164 and P64LL187 from Pioneer were groundbreaking – yielding 41 and 44 c/ha, respectively. The enterprise also experiments with planting densities to achieve optimal results. The highest sunflower yield was achieved at a density of 70 thousand plants/ha, while corn yielded best at 80 thousand plants/ha. Agronomists use digital platforms for data analysis and field monitoring, as well as agrochemical analyses for implementing precision farming.
The features of crop rotation involve dividing the area into two groups: beet (sugar beets, corn, soybeans, winter wheat) and sunflower-rapeseed. Root crops return to the same field in the fourth year. The best predecessors for beets are cereal crops, while sunflowers and rapeseed are excluded from the beet crop rotation, as their volunteers compete with beets and deplete the soil.
The main goal of the enterprise is to achieve economically justified yields, not just record figures. The enterprise collaborates with Agrilab, which conducts agrochemical soil research and provides recommendations for crop nutrition considering climatic and regional characteristics. In recent years, the yield of sugar beets has been 55–65 t/ha, corn – 10–11 t/ha, and sunflowers – 3.5–4 t/ha. Key factors for success include consideration of local soil and climatic conditions, rational use of resources, and timely execution of technological operations.