Comparative Evaluation of Sugarbeet Varieties under Krishna Zone of Andhra Pradesh, India
Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) is being explored as an alternative sugar crop because of its relatively short duration, lower water requirement and adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions. A field evaluation was conducted during the rabi season of 2024–25 at VIAT Lara Green Farm, Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research, Vadlamudi, Andhra Pradesh, to assess the performance of two sugarbeet varieties, Gustea KWS and Fadela KWS, under the conditions of the Krishna Zone. The varieties were evaluated for germination, plant establishment, biomass production, root yield, root quality, juice recovery, total soluble solids, pH, fibre content and the suitability of juice for jaggery preparation. Fadela KWS recorded a higher germination percentage (62.26%) than Gustea KWS (46.63%), indicating better field establishment under the study conditions. Fadela KWS also produced higher leaf biomass, root weight and total biomass during both harvest observations. The fresh root yield of Fadela KWS was 20.63 t ha⁻¹, whereas Gustea KWS recorded 6.48 t ha⁻¹. Dry root yield was also higher in Fadela KWS (3.00 t ha⁻¹) than in Gustea KWS (0.94 t ha⁻¹). Quality grading showed that Fadela KWS had a higher quantity of excellent-grade roots and a lower quantity of poor-grade roots. Gustea KWS recorded slightly higher juice recovery (50.90%), whereas Fadela KWS recorded higher fibre content (35.10%) and total soluble solids (13.10°Brix). The pH values were comparable between the two varieties. The jaggery preparation trial indicated that concentrated sugarbeet juice failed to solidify and developed a bitter taste and undesirable flavour. Overall, Fadela KWS showed better agronomic performance; however, further studies are required to improve processing methods and validate varietal performance across locations and seasons.