Sugarbeet Trials in Maharashtra State

Considering the advantages of sugar beet cultivation and problems in subtropics, the thermo insensitive varieties have been developed by multinational companies like Syngenta India Ltd. The feeler trials of these varieties particularly HI0064, Dorotea and Posada were taken on about 38 sugar factories from Maharashtra. Considering the results in respect of yield and sugar content obtained at these factories from Maharashtra, "The Network Project on developing agro-techniques for tropicalized sugar beet in India" by ICAR has been initiated from October 2004 for three years. The centers are VSI, Pune (M.S.), Regional Research Station, Digraj, Dist. Sangli (M.S.), IISR, Lucknow (U.P.) and Sriganganagar (Rajasthan).
The results on agronomic trials revealed that, the yield ranges from 60 tonnes (t) to 75 t/ha with pol% root 13-14% if grown during winter season.
Based on experiments conducted during last few years, it was observed that, the sugar beet crop may be cultivated during winter with the production of 60-75 t/ha. The variety, HI0064 of Syngenta has given the best performance followed by the IISR, Lucknow varieties i.e. LS-6 and IISR Comp-1.
Based on the experiments conducted at VSI, Pune and Research Station, Digraj in Maharashtra, it was found that, the September, October and November sowing is the optimum sowing period for sugar beet.
However, it is certain that, very limited varieties of sugar beet have been tested so far. Therefore, it is necessary to test large number of varieties/genotypes of sugar beet from entire world for their performance in respect of their quality, quantity and reaction towards pests and diseases under Indian conditions. At present, other companies like Sesvanderhave, Belgium have entered into collaboration with VSI, Pune for testing their varieties in various agroclimatic regions of Maharashtra. On similar lines the material from other seed companies in the world can be tested.