Understanding the Sugar Beet Crop and Its Physiology

Abstract

Sugar beet is the second most important sugar crop producing one-fifth of the world's sugar, and it is grown in around 57 sugar-producing countries. It is a temperate crop, but now this crop is also being well adapted as a supplementary sugar crop for Indian tropical and sub-tropical climatic conditions. This is a biennial plant belonging to Chenopodiaceae family. The several advantages of this crop have attracted the farmers and millers towards itself. Short duration and salt reclamation property are some of the important characteristics of this crop. Besides sugar, there are several other by-products obtained from this crop such as pulp, fiber, and molasses. Leaves of this plant are used as fodder for milch animals. Molasses and pulp are used as raw materials for ethanol production. This chapter, per se, makes us aware of botany and physiology of this important sugar crop.