INFLUENCE OF TOPPING DEPTH ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF SUGAR BEET

The influence of topping depth on the yield and quality of sugar beet was studied in exact field trials. The currently used method of standard topping - cutting off the stalks where they are attached to the crown - was compared to the minimum topping method. In this so called micro topping method the "heart" of the bulb is topped and the bulb then cleaned from the remaining stalks. The comparison was performed in two years for early and late harvest, on two varieties and 6 locations. On average the higher topping (micro topping) method increased beet yield by 7.6%, reduced sugar content by 0.20%, decreased white sugar content by 0.21%, increased sugar yield by 6.3% and refined sugar yield by 6.0%. Other studied factors - year, harvest date, variety and locality - had no significant influence on these values.