INFLUENCE OF CLIMATIC ELEMENTS ON THE YIELD AND THE SUGAR CONTENT OF SUGAR-BEET

The aim of our work was to determine the critical periods of sugar beet growing in respect to the influence of climatic elements on quantity and quality. The analysis was based on the beet yields and the sugar content data of period 1986-1991 collected from sugar beet producers. The relations between climatic elements (precipitation, mean temperature; duration of sunshine) and yields were analyzed in ten geographical mesoregions of Hungary. The relations were determined by bivariate linear correlation coefficients. On the basis of the analysis the following results have been got: 1(st) Different, climatic conditions are required to produce high beet yield and to increase sugar content. 2(nd) The above. average precipitation during the growing Season has a positive influence on beet yield but has a negative influence on sugar content. Regarding beet yield the summer period is the most important, particularly August. The end of growing season is the critical period with regard to sugar content. 3(rd) April, May and July are dominant months of the relation between sugar content and monthly mean temperature. Regarding beet yield the mean temperature of June and July are the most effective ones. 4(th) The above average duration of sunshine during the growing season has a positive influence on sugar content but has a negative effect on beet yield. The summer period is the most important for the beet yield. Concerning sugar content September and October are the most influential months.