Beets - the basis of the diet of animals

Beetroot is an integral vegetable in our diet, many of us consider it a traditional crop. Not only for humans, but also for animals, root crops are food. Of course, we eat completely different types beets, and today it will not be about us. The theme is yellow beet, and to be more precise, it is a fodder variety. Let's analyze everything - from varieties to agricultural technology from A to Z.

Fodder beet, what is it?

To begin with, let's get acquainted with the culture, since not everyone knows that it can have a different purpose - table, fodder, sugar and greens. These root crops differ from each other, and, in turn, have a variety of varieties. Fodder beet is technical, that is, it is not used for our food, but is grown for the purpose of feeding animals - KRM, MRS. Root crops are well nourished, it is profitable to grow them.

On a note! People often wonder if fodder beets can be eaten by humans? No, it’s better not to do this, since root crops are very tough, for our digestive tract, this is too heavy food.

The yellow beet has been around for thousands of years, but it was not until the 16th century that it was introduced as a crop by German breeders. To get the seeds of a fodder variety, you need to grow it for two years, since the tops and fruit ripen in the first. The beet root can grow deep into several meters, while the mass can reach up to 10 kg. The tuber contains a lot of vitamins, minerals, coarse fiber, which is necessary for the digestion of animals. Growing a crop is not so difficult, you can harvest it manually, since most of the tuber grows on the surface.

Fodder beets - popular varieties

"Ursus poly"

If we talk about yellow beets, then in our country there are three most popular varieties with high returns. "Ursus poly" is the result of the activities of breeders from Poland. The variety is considered large-fruited - 6-7 kg, ripens on average in 120-135 days, depending on the weather, conditions and region. Root crops have a rich yellow-orange color, milky flesh, cylindrical shape. This variety is predominantly on the surface, it is easy to collect. The advantage of the variety is that it is well stored without loss. useful substances, but you need a cool temperature, it also has a good return. The yield is 1250 centners per hectare, dry matter in the composition of 14%.

"Centaur poly"

Another fodder beet, which you see in the photo, was bred by Polish breeders. The crop ripens in about 140-150 days. This beet is also easy to harvest, it has a high return - the yield is up to 1400 centners per hectare, the share of dry matter is 17%. Unpretentious beet, which is great for our changeable climate, a variety of soils. It facilitates the collection not only by the fact that the fruits grow 2/3 above the surface, but also by the fact that the root does not have lateral processes. There is another significant plus - this beet is eaten very well by livestock, and milk yields become much larger. Root crops, on the other hand, are smaller in size - up to 2 kg, than their vegetable counterpart, which we described first.

For information! You can also take a closer look at the varieties "Vermont", "Starmon", "Ideal Crische". But this fodder beet is not distinguished by record yields, the return is about 700-800 centners.

"Eckendorf Yellow"

This fodder beet can be considered the most popular and leader among the three varieties. Our breeders brought it out, and most often this beet is grown on an industrial scale. All because it has many advantages, it is ideal for our climate, moreover, throughout the territory. Maximum return, stable yields, unpretentiousness make farmers grow a variety from year to year.

"Eckendorf yellow" beet is a variety:

• cold-resistant;
• mid-season - 140-150 days vegetation period;
• juicy - in fruits, the proportion of dry matter is 12%;
• undemanding to weather conditions, fertility, care;
• disease resistant;
• not forming an arrow;
• having a high percentage of useful substances in the composition;
• highly productive - the yield of fodder "Eckendorf" beets is up to 1500 centners per hectare.

It is also worth noting that the shape of the fruit is cylindrical, they are small - 1.6-2 kg. Harvesting is easy, as the roots rise 2/3 above the soil. The color of the beets is light yellow, next to the tops it turns into gray. Feeding this type of livestock increases milk yield.

On a note! If you choose an unpretentious variety and undemanding to soils, this does not mean that the site does not need to be fertilized and cared for. This directly affects the yield indicators, which can increase by 300-500 centners.

So, root crops make up the lion's share in the diet of animals, and if you decide to grow them, then you need to read the next part, namely, about the technology of growing fodder beets. Competent actions allow you to avoid unforeseen situations and increase returns and performance.

Growing yellow fodder beets

predecessors

Let's start with the fact that crop rotation plays a very important role in the cultivation of any crop. You can not plant in one place those vegetables that can suffer from the same diseases. If we talk about fodder beet, then it can be grown without fear after legumes, wheat, corn, melons, potatoes, rye. This will save your plantings from ailments and pests.

Timing and soil

The crop is planted in the spring, depending on the region - it can be April or the end of May. The main condition here is the soil temperature, which should be 5-7 degrees at a depth of up to 10 cm. Therefore, the timing can vary significantly, they are not the same in Siberia and the central part of the country.

As for the soil, although fodder beets are quite unpretentious, the field still needs to be fertilized, it should not have stagnant moisture, swamps. Clay, rocky and sandy soils are not suitable for growing fodder beet. The earth should be neutral or slightly alkaline, nutritious and moderately moist. Floodplain fields and chernozems are ideal places where culture will grow with maximum efficiency. If the soil is poor, then fertilization is mandatory.

Advice! Seeds are on sale now. different cultures, which are in granules, such a shell makes not only sowing convenient, but it also contains a nutrient composition that helps speed up seedlings.

Fertilizers and field preparation

For fodder beets, the land must be prepared in the fall. When the previous crop has been harvested, the area begins to be peeled with disc cultivators or a harrow. Heavy soil is peeled twice. When the weeds fully germinate in the field, plowing is carried out to a depth of 30 cm. In the spring, the soil, when it has entered the phase of physical ripeness, is cultivated and harrowed, before sowing, harrowing and cultivation are also carried out a week before sowing to make the earth loose and even. Also, herbicides against weeds are applied in 10-14 days - Penocil - 1-1.5 kg / ha, Eptan - 4-5 kg ​​/ ha, Pyramin - 4-6 kg / ha.

As for fertilizers, they begin to be applied in the fall. As a rule, organic matter is used - rotted manure, manure-peat compost - about 40-60 t / ha. For alkalization of acidic soils, slaked lime is buried. Also contributed mineral fertilizers based on potassium and phosphorus - 30-40 kg/ha. In the spring, before cultivation, nitrogen fertilization is applied - 70-80 kg / ha.

Cultivation of fodder beet is a process that takes a lot of nutrients from the soil. The removal of potassium among them is the most, so it needs to be compensated. The amount of fertilizer will be different in each region, depending on the soil and its condition. Therefore, if you want to plant a crop for the first time, then take into account all the nuances, learn about the soil from farmers or agronomists who have already grown beets here.

Seeding rate and planting fodder beet

Seeds are planted in such a way that there are from 12 to 15 seedlings per linear meter, of which 5-6 root crops will remain in the future after picking. You can plant at the rate of 150 grams of seeds per hundred square meters. For one hectare, this is approximately 70-80 thousand tubers. Close up to a depth of 3-4 cm, at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other, the width between rows is up to 50 cm. Sowing is carried out with precision seeders.

Before planting, fodder beet seeds are soaked in water so that they swell and germinate better, then they are dried and treated with fungicides. After the appearance of 3-4 leaves, a pick is carried out, leaving 5 seedlings per meter. If the weather is warm and the soil is moderately moist, then the first shoots may appear in 4-5 days.

Care after landing

After thinning the seedlings, ammonium nitrate is added, do it again two weeks later. On the site, they make sure that there are not a large number of weeds, that is, weeding is carried out as necessary. If there are too many herbs, then you have to use drugs - Roundup, Buran, Hurricane. The field should not dry out if there is little natural rain. Therefore, the entire season is periodically watered, stopping it 4 weeks before harvest. Cleaning is done in autumn.

Planting fodder beets is a rather painstaking task, but not difficult, a beginner will have to be patient and experienced, because conditions, soils, weather are very different everywhere. But, after walking the path several times, cultivation will become a common thing, which will already be carried out on the machine.

Fodder beet really helps to raise livestock and give them good food. If you decide to start breeding it, then cultivating a crop will help you in this matter.

Farmers call fodder beet an indispensable crop for the diet of cows, goats and other farm animals. This plant is rich in many trace elements and nutrients that positively affect the productivity of livestock. Fodder beet is quite easy to grow even in small areas, but for a large crop you need to know the intricacies of the process.

Sugar, table and fodder beets had one ancestor - a wild beet from India. The development of fodder crops took place as follows:

In the 20th century, fodder beet becomes the leader among crops used as daily feed for livestock.

Characteristics of culture

Fodder beet has the following features:

Fodder beet is quite edible, but gardeners are in no hurry to plant it in the beds. The fact is that the roots of the culture are too dense, it is difficult for the human body to digest and assimilate them.

Important! Animal stomachs, unlike human stomachs, easily digest fodder beets. In the cold season, the root crop saves livestock from starvation and supplies them with vitamins.

Pros and cons of fodder beets

Culture has several pros and cons. They are presented in the table below.

Table 1. Advantages and disadvantages of fodder beet

Popular varieties

There are several varieties of fodder beet, which are distinguished by excellent qualities. They are presented in the table below.

Table 2. Popular varieties of fodder beet

Variety	Description
	The crop ripens approximately 120 days after the appearance of the first sprouts. Root crops can reach a weight of 4-5 kg. The flesh is white with a pinkish tint. The rhizome does not go deep underground, so it is harvested by hand. From a hectare of land, you can get up to 125 kg of root crops.
	A successful selection product that was bred in Russia. It is considered high-yielding and extremely productive. 1 hectare of plantings can bring 100,000-150,000 kg of root crops. The weight of one piece can reach 2 kg. The peel of the root crop is yellowish, the flesh is juicy, snow-white in color. The fruit is cylindrical, goes underground for 1/3 of its length. Is different: - resistance to pulling arrows; - nutritious fruits of an equal form; - long-term storage; - resistance to weak frosts. Root crops ripen 140-150 days after planting.
	The fruits are ready for harvest 130 days after germination. Features are: - rich, creamy pulp; - fruits of a cylindrical form; - the color of the roots is bright orange; - the fruits are sunk into the ground by about 40%, so the field is not covered with earth during harvesting. A field of 1 ha yields 125,000 kg of root crops.
	The variety was bred in Poland, half is sugar. Root crops of an oval form, pulp white. Variety features: - calmly tolerates dry weather; - resistant to tsvetushnosti and not susceptible to cercosporiosis. 1 hectare brings up to 110,000 kg of beets, it ripens in 160 days. It is necessary to store the crop at a low temperature.
	Beetroot variety "Lada" was born in Belarus. The variety is very productive, root crops can reach a weight of up to 25 kg. The skin is pinkish with a greenish tint, the flesh is rich, snow-white. It differs from other varieties in its pointed base.
	This variety is grown in the black earth regions. The root crop goes halfway into the soil. Productivity - up to 140,000 kg per hectare.
	A German variety that yields up to 150,000 kg per hectare. The weight of one root crop is up to 3 kg. Early ripening: after 108-118 days. The fruits are elongated, cylindrical in shape, the flesh is white-yellow. The variety is resistant to drought, the fruits are stored for a long time.

Instructions for growing fodder beet

The experience of gardeners helped to identify a number of rules that should be followed when planting fodder beets. If you stick to them, the fertility of the culture will be maximum. So, growing a plant begins with a certain preparation, which consists of several steps.

Step 1. Choosing a place for landing

A site for beets is chosen in the fall. It is permissible to plant a root crop in areas where it was previously grown:

• potatoes, legumes, cereals before winter (if a field crop rotation is planned);
• peas, oats, melons, corn (if the crop rotation is fodder).

As for the composition of the soil, loamy or sandy loamy soil is suitable for beets. It must supply the root crop with nutrients. No less successfully, the culture sprouts on black earth plots. Do not expect a good harvest on soils with high acidity.

Step 2. Soil preparation

Initial preparation for sowing begins in the fall. It happens according to the following rules:

Step 3. Seed preparation

Beet seeds must be sorted out in advance and soaked in a disinfectant solution. It can be hydrogen peroxide or potassium permanganate. Then they are treated with growth stimulants - epin, zircon and others. This is not a mandatory procedure, but it will help to achieve a better result. After soaking, the seeds are laid out on a dry cloth and dried.

Important! Only well-dried seeds can be sown. The ground must be moist.

Step 4. Seeding

Since the growing season is quite long (up to 150 days), beets should be planted in the second half of March. The earth at the time of landing at a depth of 15 cm should warm up to at least +7 degrees.

Sowing occurs according to the following principles:

• furrows are preliminarily prepared on the field every 50 cm;
• sowing depth is 3-4 cm;
• seeds are placed in a row at a distance of 25 cm from each other;
• as a rule, about 15 g of seeds are spent per 1 running meter;
• after sowing, the furrows are covered with a layer of earth.

Important! Fodder beet can grow very strongly (some specimens can grow up to 25 kg). This fact must be taken into account when placing seeds on the beds.

How to take care of the crop?

Forage crop care consists of several procedures that require regularity. They are presented in the table below.

Table 3. Principles of fodder beet care

Action	Description
	The first 40-45 days of its development, beets grow very slowly. During this period, it must be thinned out periodically to leave only strong specimens. The first thinning occurs after the appearance of two true leaves. On one meter, no more than 5 sprouts should remain at a distance of at least 25 cm from each other.
	Before planting, a dense crust may appear on the soil due to unstable air temperatures. It must be broken with a hoe, working in the direction across future furrows or in another way.
	Fodder beet loves water, especially on early stages of its maturation. It should be watered as the soil dries out. If there is enough moisture for the root crop, the tops will grow juicy and will be stored for as long as possible.
	To achieve a lush harvest, you need to regularly feed the beets. The set of fertilizers depends on the type of soil. The following drugs are commonly used: - with the presence of nitrogen (up to 130 kg of composition per hectare); - mixtures based on potassium and phosphorus (up to 150 kg per hectare before sowing); - boric fertilizer after pecking the first leaves (applied by the root method for each beet, 180 kg per hectare).
	Procedure methods depend on the type of weed. For example: - Annuals (as a rule, these are cereals and dicotyledonous crops). The first weeding is carried out after the appearance of the first weeds, the second - after about 2 weeks, the next - as they grow. - Perennials. If the field is regularly attacked by perennial weeds, processing must be carried out in advance. So, in the fall, the soil is supplied with herbicides (drugs "Roundup", "Hurricane", "Buran"). Active substance the drug gets on the weed and moves to the point of growth, where under its influence the plant dies off.

Diseases and pests

Most farmers prefer not to treat beet plantings for pests. Due to the lack of prevention, leaves can attack diseases. They will not harm animals, but they can completely destroy the crop.

Forage crops can be affected by:

Click beetles and other pests are very fond of eating beet fruits, which do not care what to eat. They attack leaves, stems and the formed root system.

Important! If at least one larva is found on the leaves or the top of the fruit, a complex treatment of plants should be carried out immediately.

Harvest and storage

As a rule, the time for harvesting comes at the end of September / beginning of October. Harvest the tubers before the first frosts. You can not let the top of the root crop freeze, otherwise the crop will not be stored.

Harvest is dug with a pitchfork manually or with a combine, depending on the area of ​​​​the site. Then the fruits are dried, the tops and adhering soil are removed, after which they are sent to plastic bags.

For long-term storage, the following conditions are required:

The effect of fodder beet on the body of animals

Cattle are fed beet greens, which can be given fresh or dried for winter use. The leaves supply the animal's body with minerals, amino acids, carbohydrates, alkaline substances and vitamins.

At the same time, culture affects the body of each animal in different ways:

Before being introduced into the diet, fodder beets are poured with boiling water and crushed. It is then mixed with straw or hay to reduce the stomach acid in the animal.

Video - Storing fodder beets

Among all varieties of beet fodder occupies a worthy place. It is an indispensable winter food for pets. She is adored by dairy cattle, pigs, rabbits, horses. The plant is rich in fiber, pectin, dietary fiber, carbohydrates, mineral salts and protein.

Beets significantly increase milk yield during the period of feeding animals with dry feed. In addition, it belongs to unpretentious plants with high yields. Not only root crops are used, but also the tops of the plant.

When choosing fodder beet seeds for sowing, you need to know that the most productive varieties are cylindrical, bag-shaped and elongated-cone-shaped. Cone-shaped varieties of white, pink and yellow are famous for their sugar content.

Consider the most common varieties of fodder beets.

"Centaur"

Fodder beet "Centaur" was bred by Polish breeders and belongs to multi-germ varieties of semi-sugar type. Root crops are white, elongated-oval in shape, weighing 1.2-2.7 kg.

feature of this variety is the absence of lateral branching of root crops and the rapid growth of roots and leaves. The root furrow of this variety is shallow, so the root crops are slightly contaminated.

An important advantage of the variety is resistance to cercosporiosis and bolting. The plant is not demanding on the composition of the soil and is drought-resistant. Root crops are immersed in the ground by 60% before harvesting, so they can be harvested both mechanically and manually. The crop is well preserved in cool rooms at a temperature of 0 to 4 ° C until May. The vegetation period is 145 days, the yield is 100-110 t/ha.

Did you know? Seeds of most varieties of fodder beet are multi-germ. This is due to the fact that we do not sow seeds, but seedlings, so several plants grow from one glomerulus. In this regard, the seedlings must be broken through. At present, breeders have bred quite a few single-sprout varieties and hybrids, the seeds of which do not form seedlings.

"Ursus"

The hybrid variety of Polish breeders is a multi-germ semi-sugar type. The root crop is yellow-orange in color, cylindrical in shape, weighing up to 6 kg. juicy pulp, white color. Root crops have a smooth surface, are slightly polluted and immersed in the soil by 40%, so it will not be difficult to clean them manually.

The plant is not demanding on the composition of the soil, it is drought-resistant and is characterized by the rapid growth of roots and leaves. Plant resistance to diseases is good, low tendency to bloom. Root crops are well preserved until December and contain a lot of dry matter and sucrose. The vegetation period is 145 days, the yield of root crops is 125t/ha.

"Record"

Fodder beet "Record" refers to varieties of Polish selection and is a multi-germ plant of semi-sugar type. In terms of maturation, it belongs to the medium-late culture. Root crops of a cylindrical-conical shape without lateral branches, pink in color, weighing up to 6 kg.

Its surface is smooth, immersed in the soil by 40%. The pulp is white, juicy. Resistance to diseases and flowering is high. The fruits keep well. Vegetation period 145 days, yield 125 t/ha.

"Kyiv Pink"

The variety was bred by the Institute of Agriculture of Ukraine. It belongs to the popular multi-germ mid-season varieties. The root crop is cylindrical-oval, orange in color. The variety is characterized by a small and shallow root furrow, so the root crops are slightly contaminated. Its immersion in the soil is 50%, which allows mechanized harvesting.

It reacts positively to the introduction of fertilizers into the soil and shows high yields. The variety is drought-resistant, resistant to diseases and pests. The fruits keep well. Productivity is 120 t/ha.

"Foreman"

Beet fodder "Brigadier" refers to varieties of German selection. Root crops are oval-cylindrical, orange-green in color with a smooth shiny surface and weighing about 3 kg. The sugar content is high.

A distinctive feature of the variety is the preservation of green and juicy tops until harvest. The plant is not demanding on the composition of the soil and is drought-resistant.

Seedlings withstand short-term frosts down to -3 °C, in adult plants up to -5 °C. Beet "Brigadier" has a good trade dress and is resistant to coloring. Harvesting can be carried out both mechanically and manually. Root crops contain a high percentage of dry matter, so they are stored for a long period. Vegetation period 120 days, yield 150 t/ha.

"Lada"

Fodder beet "Lada" was bred by Belarusian breeders and belongs to single-sprout varieties. The root crop is white or pinkish-white in color, oval-cylindrical in shape with a pointed base, weighing up to 25 kg. The pulp is white, juicy, dense. The immersion of the root crop in the soil is 40-50%. A distinctive feature of this variety is resistance to drought and disease. The seeds of the plant are treated with a complex of protective and stimulating substances. This allows seedlings not to be afraid of adverse weather conditions, pests and diseases.

The variety is low-flowered. Plant resistance is observed throughout the entire period of growth to cercosporosis and rope rot during storage. The fruits keep well. The advantage of the variety "Brigadier" is also the preservation of green and juicy tops throughout the growing season and the saving of seed, because only 4 kg of seeds are needed per 1 ha. Suitable for manual cleaning. The average yield is 120 t/ha.

"Hope"

Fodder beet "Nadezhda" is intended for growing in the conditions of the North-Western, Middle Volga and Far Eastern regions of Russia and belongs to single-sprout varieties.

The root crop is oval-cylindrical, red. The leaf blades of the plant are green in color with a slight anthocyanin coloration. The pulp is white, juicy. The immersion of the root crop in the soil is 40%. Resistance of plants to powdery mildew and cercosporosis is average. The yield of the variety is high.

Did you know? Anthocyanin leaf color is caused by the anthocyanin pigment. It has a blue light in an alkaline environment and red in an acidic environment. Anthocyanin-containing leaves, compared to green leaves, absorb more energy from the sun. The temperature difference between red and green leaves in sunny weather is 3.5 degrees, and in cloudy weather - 0.5-0.6 degrees.

"Milan"

The variety of fodder beet "Milana" refers to single-sprout hybrids of semi-sugar type, bred by Belarusian breeders. A distinctive feature of the variety is its rapid growth in the initial period.

The root crop is oval, medium in size, white at the bottom and green at the top. The leaves are medium in size, green in color with white veins, rounded in shape.

It is intended for cultivation on all types of soils. Immersion in the soil of the root crop is 60-65% with low pollution. Harvesting can be carried out mechanically and manually. The plant is resistant to flowering and cercosporosis. The crop is suitable for long-term storage. The yield is 90 t/ha.

"Vermont"

Fodder beet "Vermon" refers to one-seeded hybrid varieties grown in the Central region of Russia. The root crop is cylindrical-conical in shape, medium in size, white in the lower part and green in the upper. The average yield is 90 t/ha.

Fodder beet (beet) occupies a special position among vegetables.

When choosing fodder beet seeds, pay attention to:

1. Immersion in the soil. And although this property is not so important for two beds, it is still more pleasant when the tuber sticks out of the ground as much as possible, which greatly simplifies the digging of beetroot, and also minimizes the amount of adhered soil, as, for example, in the Polish variety Centaur poly, in which ¾ of the root is above ground.
2. Multidimensionality or singleness. Perhaps this will be news to some, but in one beet seed there are several sprouts that germinate densely and force thinning. Some modern varieties as a result of selection already have a sign of single growth.
3. Resistance to tsvetushnost and a tserkosporoz. Everything is simple here, the less diseases, the better the harvest. You should not grow a root crop in one place for more than 2, 3 years.

Sowing fodder beet

When choosing a place for sowing, remember that clay, rocky and waterlogged soils are not suitable for growing. The growing season of fodder beet is from 125 to 150 days, so it is planted in early spring, as soon as the ground warms up to 5 degrees. For the southern regions of Ukraine - this is the end of March, for Kyiv and the north - suitable conditions come at the end of April. To prepare for sowing, soak fodder beet seeds in warm water overnight so that they swell and wake up. You can plant in a shallow groove, sprinkled with a few centimeters, trying not to thicken the crops too much. The optimal distance between seedlings is 25 cm, removal of excess plants can be done on the first pair of true leaves. Watering and fertilizing fodder beets are very fond of. To grow a giant beauty, do not save on water and top dressing, but only during the period of active growth. As soon as the upper leaves begin to turn yellow, it's time to prepare the vegetable for harvest - 3 weeks "before" no watering!

fodder beet- This is a biennial plant, in the second year a panicle with seeds is formed. Of course, you can collect and dry them yourself, but given the reasonable cost and variety of varieties on the market at different prices, it is better to buy from a trusted supplier.

Fodder beets are a real "lifeline" for many farmers. Today we will look at the main characteristics of this crop, and also learn how to grow it correctly.

Peculiarities

Fodder beet is a biennial herbaceous plant from the amaranth family. In the first year, basal leaves and a fruit with a thickening are formed, and by the end of the second, shoots with peduncles are formed. Beets contain minerals, pectins, carbohydrates and vitamins. In cereal crops, there are 15-16% less proteins than in the leaves of the plant.

The shape and color of the fruit depends on the variety that the farmer has chosen for sowing. They may be red or orange. As for the shape, it can be bag-shaped, cylindrical or in the form of a cone with a long root. There are drought-resistant (with protrusion from the ground by half, two-thirds of the part) and sugar varieties.

Advantages and disadvantages

Fodder beet is an edible plant. Summer residents rarely plant it in the beds, because they classify it as a category of indigestible and indigestible vegetables. What is a minus for people is a plus for livestock. In winter and early spring, when there is snow on the fields, she saves goats, cows, chickens, rabbits from hunger and lack of vitamins. In their stomach, such beets are easily digested and completely absorbed. It is steamed and then added to chopped straw or chaff to prevent excess acidity in the stomach of livestock.

For cattle, tops are harvested separately, which are fed after mowing or dried for winter feeding. They are rich in organic acids, minerals, vitamins needed to enhance reproductive function. Beets contain a lot of free amino acids, alkaline elements, carbohydrates (sucrose). Unlike other root crops, there is little vitamin C, carotene and B vitamins.

Pros:

• an ideal milk extractor that does not harm the health of cows;
• helps to increase milk yield in cows, goats;
• high yield;
• the possibility of using parts of the plant in feeding birds and livestock.

Minuses:

• does not grow everywhere: the field for planting is chosen carefully, avoiding saline, overly acidic soils and waterlogged soils;
• cannot be grown on the same field for more than 2-3 years in a row;
• be sure to fertilize the soil before planting seeds and during the growing season;
• needs abundant watering during the growth period.

How is it different from sugar?

To extract sugar, sugar beet is used, and livestock is fed fodder. Sugar is valued for the abundance of sucrose in the composition, and fodder fruits - for the abundance of protein. Different chemical compositions cause a difference in the areas of use of crops.

External differences

You can not confuse one variety of beets with another. The aft one looks visually different than the sugar one. Its root crops of a red or orange hue take the form of a circle, an oval. The fruits rise above the ground, hiding behind thick tops formed by green ovoid leaves.

Long root crops of white, gray, beige color, inherent in sugar beet, hide under the ground. They are framed by green thick tops, formed by leaves on long petioles.

Growing conditions

Sugar beet ripens in 140-170 days, and fodder beet is a month faster - in 110-150 days. Both varieties of beets are frost-resistant. They have an identical vegetative system. When flowering on thick peduncles, inflorescences grow, in which 2-6 small yellow-green flowers are hidden.

Composition

Sugar beet contains up to 20% of sugar in the dry residue. This is its main difference from the feed. Both varieties are rich in carbohydrates, but sugar lacks protein, which is abundant in feed. In addition to protein, it contains milk-producing substances, fortified components, fiber and minerals. Farmers grow it and then feed it to livestock and poultry throughout the winter/spring.

Application

Sugar beet is an industrial crop used to produce sugar. The remaining parts from processing are fed to livestock, and lime fertilizers are made from defecation mud. Animals are fed fruits, dried or fresh tops.

Popular varieties

Of all the varieties in Russia, the following have become widespread:

• "Eckendorf yellow";
• "Record Poly";
• "Centuar Poli";
• "Ursus Poly";
• "Brigadier";
• "Lada and Milana".

"Eckendorf Yellow"

This variety is a successful selection, bred by specialists from Russia. It is considered highly productive and fruitful. From one hectare, 100-150 thousand kg of vegetables are dug up after 140-150 days from the moment the seedlings hatch. Their weight varies and reaches 2 kg.

Pale yellow beetroots are cylinder-shaped with a gray head "sitting" in the ground for one third of their length. The white pulp is very juicy, and the dry matter in it is only 12%. Farmers sow Eckendorf yellow beets in the fields because they have the following special features:

• unpretentiousness to the quality of the land;
• high resistance to the formation of arrows;
• ability to withstand short frosts;
• long storage;
• even and with good nutritional properties of the fruit.

"Centuar Poli"

"Centuar Poli" is a multi-sprout semi-sugar variety from Polish breeders. Root crops of white color in the form of an oval are harvested 145-160 days after shoots are noticed. Their weight is up to 2 kg. Beets of this variety easily tolerate drought, are not susceptible to cercosporiosis and flowering.

Up to 1.1 thousand centners of root crops are harvested from 1 ha. They are stored in warehouses and basements at low temperatures.

"Poly's Record"

This variety is a multi-seeded hybrid with medium ripeness. From the moment of germination to harvest, 80-123 days pass. The mass of root crops is up to 5 kg. The color of the pulp is pinkish (almost white). They are cylindrical in shape. The fruits do not sit deep in the soil. Because of this, the harvest is harvested by hand: from 1 hectare to 1,250 thousand centners of root crops. It directly depends on whether farmers applied fertilizers or not.

"Ursus Poly"

The weight of root crops of fodder beet of the Ursus Poly variety reaches 6 kg. They are dug up after a maximum of 135 days from the moment of germination.

• their shape is cylindrical;
• color - bright orange;
• the cream-colored pulp is full of juice.

At 40%, it sits in the ground, which contributes to low soil pollution during harvesting. Up to 1,250 thousand centners of beets are harvested from 1 ha.

"Foreman"

Variety "Brigadier" appeared through the efforts of specialists from Germany. It belongs to the polyploid species. Usually 3 kg beets are harvested 108-118 days after emergence. They have a cylindrical-elongated shape, a smooth olive-orange leaf plate. The yield per hectare is up to 1500 centners. The yellow-white pulp contains a lot of sugars and dry residue. Variety "Brigadier" is distinguished by excellent commercial qualities, long storage. Drought does not affect beet growth.

"Lada"

Belarusian farmers have bred the Lada variety. It is considered single-sprout and fruitful. These root crops have a built-up base, which distinguishes them from the others described above. Some vegetables weigh 25 kg. The skin of the root vegetable is pinkish-green in color, and the flesh is white and juicy.

"Milan"

How to plant?

A conniving approach to growing fodder beet is unacceptable. Without choosing a suitable site with special care, without clearing it of weeds, refusing to fertilize, it is impossible to harvest a decent harvest in the fall.

Site selection

Prepare ahead of time for planting fodder beets. In the fall, a site is selected and prepared.

• with fodder crop rotations, a plot is suitable where oats, peas, melons, corn for silage were previously grown;
• in field crop rotations, the choice is stopped at land plots where legumes, cotton, potatoes or winter grains were previously grown;

It is advisable to avoid planting in a place where perennial grasses were grown.

Soil preparation

Farmers who sow seeds in marshy, sandy or clay soil will not reap a decent harvest. Seeing shoots on rocky ground is out of the question. Fodder beet grows well on slightly acidic with a neutral reaction or on slightly saline soil. It is sown on rich black soil and in floodplains. Before planting, the selected area is weeded, removing all weeds, and a thorough pre-sowing treatment is carried out. Highlander, spurge, nightshade, henbane, shepherd's purse, swan are pulled out by weeding.

With the active growth of thistle and wheatgrass, it is treated with non-selective herbicides ("Hurricane", "Buran", "Roundup").

• 20 ml of Hurricane concentrate is diluted in 3 liters of water, and then weeds with two fully formed leaves are treated with it;
• a stronger effect on weeds in the "Buran" agent, which is suitable for use in aviation spraying;
• herbicide "Roundup" can be effectively used both before and after planting 3-5 days before germination.

Features of fertilization

During the autumn digging, the site is fertilized with manure or humus, adhering to the concentration: 35 tons of organic matter per 1 ha. It is fertilized by applying 5 quintals of wood ash per hectare. Do not pre-sow seeds in boxes at home. They are planted in open ground, but before that, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are introduced into the plowed areas. This allows you to make the earth loose, moist and with small lumps.

Sowing seeds

They try to plant seeds in time from the end of March to mid-April. By that time, the soil warms up to + 5-7 ° C at a depth of 12 cm. This is due to the fact that fodder beet ripens in 125-150 days from the date of germination.

On day "X", the seeds are treated with a disinfectant, for example, a saturated solution of potassium permanganate. Seeds are placed in it half an hour before planting in the ground. Growth stimulants help to accelerate growth, as well as affect the density of seedlings.

Before planting, beet seeds are dried, and then planted in the ground, following the following scheme: they are not deepened by more than 5 cm, planted at a distance of 0.4 m from each other and between rows. Subject to such a planting scheme, seed consumption will be 0.15 kg per 1 sq. m.

Seeds are sprinkled with earth, compacted with a roller if the soil is dry. This helps the moisture from below rise to the surface.

Germination is affected by weather conditions. If the temperature is kept around +8°C, they will appear on the 12th day.

Subtleties of care

To prevent the appearance of weeds on the site, it is treated with herbicides 3-5 days before germination. In the first month they develop slowly. The task of the farmer is to thin out the plantings when the first true leaves appear, leaving 5 shoots at a distance of 25 cm from each other in each linear meter.

In the first month and until the end of the growing season, the plant is properly cared for. Watering is combined with fertilizing with ammonium nitrate. After 2 weeks, you need to feed it with mineral fertilizers.

When to harvest?

By the end of summer or in early September, the development of beets stops. She does not form new leaves, and old ones fall off. It does not need moisture, watering is reduced so as not to impair the taste of the vegetable. According to farmers who have been cultivating crops for more than a year, the optimal time for digging is before severe cold in autumn.

A shovel or pitchfork is used to dig up root crops. Having dug them up, they remove the adhering earth from the fruits. The tops are cut off, dried and put into the cellar, making sure that the temperature in it does not fall below + 3-5 ° C.

Diseases and pests

Farmers neglect tillage/fertilization before planting beets. They do not take care of the seedlings without watering and fertilizing them with organic compounds for better growth and higher yields. Because of the connivance, the harvest in the fall is harvested meagerly. The plant is affected by phomosis, cercosporosis, clamp rot and root beetle.