Russell A. Steen, Research Agriculturist
American Crystal Sugar Company
With individual sugar content determinations becoming a reality in the near future, possibly as early as 1973, every sugarbeet grower should be interested in ways of improving the sugar content on his own crop. With this in mind, American Crystal has been working on developing sugarbeet hybrids with high sugar content and low impurities without sacrificing too much tonnage. At the present time, Crystal Sugar has an exceptional sugar type hybrid which will meet the 1973 deadline.
Ever since the original cross was made in 1967, this new hybrid has been tested every year in the beet growing area of the Red River Valley. The results for 1971 have not been received, therefore, the following discussion will cover only the 1968 through 1970 data. To avoid confusion, only the results of the new hybrid (67-436 x 63-6HO) will be compared to the check variety (Am#2 Hybrid B).
The first test of this new cross was made in lg68 under very high fertility conditions on the research farm at East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Under these conditions, high tonnage, low sugars and high impurities were expected for all the hybrids. The following is the data obtained.
The comparison showed the new hybrid to be 1.59 ton lower in tonnage, 2.29 percent higher in sugar content and 296 units lower in impurity index* which result in 591 more pounds of sugar per acre and 50 more pounds of extractable sugar per ton of beets than the check variety. Using the 1968 sugar prices and including the government payment based on recoverable sugar x $.80 per 100 lbs., the new hybrid grossed $27.77 more per acre than the check.
*Impurity index = | 3.5 + 2.5 K + 9.5 Amino
N % Sugar |
In 1969, this hybrid was retested at East Grand Forks. This test, however, was conducted under more normal fertility conditions. The results were as follows:
The similarity between the 1968 and 1969 results were quite striking with all comparisons showing the same trends. The exceptionally high sugar content of the new hybrid again more than compensated for its lower tonnage. Again the sugar type hybrid grossed more money per acre. Another favorable characteristic was exhibited in its lower raffinose content.
In 1970 this new sugar type was tested at three locations- East Grand Forks, Drayton and Moorhead. Combining the results for all three locations, the following data was obtained:
For three years in a row the test results showed the new hybrid to perform better in all characteristics measured except for tonnage.The high sugar content however, was more than enough to compensate for the lower tonnage and it is indeed possible for a grower to harvest less tonnage and still gross more money per acre by growing this sugar type hybrid. American Crystal Sugar Company could also benefit by extracting more sugar per ton and handle less beets making for a more efficient and profitable processing operation.
In 1971, 67-436 x 63-6H0 was tested again at East Grand Forks, Drayton, and Moorhead. These results will be available in the very near future.
1971 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Volume 2, pages 88 - 90.