Root yield and quality of investigated sugar beet hybrids in northwest Croatia in the period from 2010 to 2013

Abstract

In order to obtain reliable information on yield and root quality of new sugar beet hybrids, the micro varietal trials were set up on the experimental field of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Zagreb in the period from 2010 to 2013. The study included a total of 51 sugar beet hybrids owned by five breeding companies present in the Croatian market. There were significant differences among investigated hybrids in root and sugar yield and sugar content in the roots in all years of research, except in the dry 2011. However, a large number of hybrids achieved statistically equal values because the differences were within the statistical tolerance. In 2010, the highest root yield (107.5 t/ha) and the highest technological sugar yield (13.5 t/ha) were achieved by the hybrid Elvis. That year, the largest sugar content (15.68%) was achieved by the hybrid Markus. In 2012, the highest root yield (86.4 t/ha), and the highest sugar yield (12.0 t/ha) were achieved by the hybrid Serenada KWS. The largest root sugar content (17.37%) was achieved by the hybrid Denisa KWS. In 2013, the highest root yield (90.2 t/ha) and the highest sugar yield (10.8 t/ha) were achieved by the hybrid Terranova KWS. That year, the largest sugar content in root (15.23%) was achieved by the hybrid Pharaon.

Keywords

• sugar beet
• hybrid
• root yield
• sugar yield
• sugar content