Sugarbeet Yields That Beet Your Expectations

Cropler is your 24/7 agri-assistant for remote monitoring of beetroot health and timely response to threats

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Sugarbeet: Key Facts

Height

30–50 cm (1–1.6 feet)

Yield

40–60 tons per hectare, on average; can be up to 70-80 tons under certain conditions

Pollination

Wind-pollinated. Sometimes, pollination by insects can be beneficial.

Roots

Taproot system; primarily grown for sugar extraction rather than direct consumption

Plant spacing
and depth

Typically, 2-4 cm (0.8-1.6 inches) depth, 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) between plants, and 45-60 cm between rows (allows room for larger root development)

Irrigation needs

Moderate but consistent moisture is essential for proper root development; overwatering reduces sugar content and water logging can cause diseases

Geography

Widely grown in temperate regions, from Europe and the US to China

Temperature

Optimal is between 18–24°C (64–75°F). Beetroot can tolerate light frost but is sensitive to heat.

Season

Typically sown in spring and harvested in autumn

Growth cycle duration

150–200 days

Soil

Prefers well-drained sandy or loamy soils with good drainage.

5.5–7.5 (optimal 6.0–7.0)

Sugarbeet Phenophases and Signs to Look Out For

Sugar beet is a commonly cultivated crop that thrives in temperate climates and prefers well-drained soils. Unlike beetroot with maroon or deep red roots, sugar beet is white; also, while beetroot is grown for direct consumption, sugar beet is primarily cultivated for sugar extraction. Typical sucrose content is 15-20%.

In addition to white sugar, there is also sugar beet pulp, a byproduct of sugar processing that is used as livestock feed. In addition, some other industrial applications include yeast production, bioethanol, bioplastics, fertilizers, and green manure.

Sugar beet can grow in diverse environments and conditions but requires careful attention to temperature, soil characteristics, and irrigation. It can be included in crop rotation plans to maintain soil fertility and reduce disease risks.

Germination and Seedling Emergence

The seeds begin to sprout, and cotyledons emerge from the soil. It can take 5 to 14 days, depending on the temperature. Then, the plant forms its first true leaves, and the root system starts to develop in the upper layers of the soil.

Common threats and diseases: Soil-borne fungal infections, damping-off disease, pest damage from root aphids, maggots, cyst nematodes.

Signs to watch: Slow germination, yellowing leaves, seedling wilt, pest activity around seedlings, visible maggots or aphids.

Vegetative Growth

The plant begins to develop more leaves, the taproot thickens. It’s important to maintain proper moisture levels, avoiding both water stress and water logging, and prevent drought stress.

Common threats and diseases: Aphid infestation, fungal diseases (downy mildew, leaf spot), bacterial blight.

Signs to watch: Yellowing, curled, or wilting leaves, spots or lesions on the leaves, stunted plant growth, aphid clusters beneath the leaves.

Root Expansion and Sugar Accumulation

The root enlarges and starts accumulating sucrose. This is the key root development stage, so fertilizers may be needed depending on your crop’s health and soil condition.

Common threats and diseases: Root rot, fungal diseases, nematodes, bacterial infections; excessive moisture can exacerbate these issues.

Signs to watch: Poor root growth and expansion, rotting texture of roots, signs of fungal infections, lesions.

Bolting

Sugar beet is a biennial plant, meaning it doesn’t flower in its first year but can flower in the second year. However, bolting (premature flowering) should not happen under normal conditions — it can switch the plant’s energy streams to leaves, so the root doesn’t reach the needed size and quality. This phase is not desired and can happen in the case of cold stress.

Common threats and diseases: Bolting itself may be considered an issue; plants may struggle with disease resistance.

Signs to watch: The development of flower stalks; some other threats common in previous stages like fungal or bacterial diseases and pests.

Maturation and Harvesting

The sugar beet reaches full maturity after 150–200 days, and its sugar content peaks. Leaves begin to die off, signaling that the plant is ready to be harvested.

Common threats and diseases: Overmaturity leading to lignified, fibrous roots; pest damage.

Signs to watch: Wilted leaves, signs of pest damage during harvesting.

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Common types

Red Beets:
The most common type; color varies from deep red to purple.

Golden Beets:
Golden-yellow beets; sweeter and softer when cooked compared to red beets.

Chioggia:
An Italian variety with alternating red and white circles, “candy-striped” beets.

Bull’s Blood:
A variety known for maroon leaves and stems; the roots and the leaves are equally popular in cooking.

Avalanche Beets:
White beets with milder flavor and higher sugar content.

Baby Beets:
Young, small beets harvested early for their sweet taste and mellow texture.

Cropler helps in every field

Poland

Detecting a sugar beet disease

Sugar beet, 1 August 2024

Sugar beet, 11 August 2024

Sugar beet, 20 August 2024

Cropler’s agri-cameras detected Cercospora Leaf Spot on beets. On mature leaves, circular light-brown spots with a 2-3 mm diameter and a reddish-brown border were observed.

Why detecting Cercospora is critical: Severely affected leaves die off, prompting the plant to produce new leaves, which consume a significant amount of nutrients. This results in underdeveloped roots and reduced sugar accumulation. The greater the degree of infection, the higher the losses from Cercospora. With mild infection, sugar yield loss per hectare can range from 5-10%. With moderate infection, losses can reach up to 20%, and with severe infection, up to 70%.

Outcome: Due to daily online monitoring using the Cropler camera, farmers were able to timely detect the disease and apply appropriate fungicides to prevent yield losses.

Cropler helps in many ways

Our goal is to help you monitor sugar beet health day by day, ensuring proper development and timely identification of diseases and environmental factors.

Monitor plant health remotely 24/7

Choose the best time to irrigate and fertilize

Act quickly in the case of diseases or pests

Plan harvesting and estimate yield potential