Evaluate sugar beet for potential to produce sugar at Mackay Sugar Experiment Stations : final report TE93005

Abstract

Can sugar beet be profitably grown at Mackay? Sugar yields from beets are continuing to increase in overseas countries. Results from experiments at Kalamia Estate in the Burdekin area indicated that sugar beet out-yielded the sugarcane variety Q117 for sugar production on highly sodic soils by as much as 400% and gave similar yields on medium sodicity soils (T Morgan, Pers. comm.). There could therefore be an opportunity for increasing production of sugar by planting sugar beet in areas which are marginally suitable for canegrowing due to soil sodicity or salinity and cane diseases. Sugar beets may be useful as a break-crop for sugarcane, thus reducing the build-up of soil pathogens. Sugar beet is used as a break-crop in rotation with cereals in Europe. Heat tolerant varieties of sugar beet are now being developed to grow in tropical climates. This project aimed to: Measure the yield of sugar from six heat tolerant varieties of sugar beet grown at the Sugar Experiment Station, Mackay.