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The effect of soil N on sugarbeet (Beta vulgarisL.) yield and quality has been studied extensively. However, comparatively few soil water (W) studies have been made on sugarbeet. Genotype (V) ✕ (N) interactions have been reported occasionally in one or a combination of the following parameters: root yield, sucrose percent, gross sugar, and impurity index. The interactions are very inconsistent from report to report. Most studies have involved a very narrow genetic base of two to three adapted sugarbeet hybrids. This study was conducted to investigate the genotype ✕ soil N and genotype ✕ soil water interaction from a broad genetic base. A series of 20 genetically different genotypes differing in yield, sugar percent, and impurity index potential were field tested in 1974 at four N levels: 0, 84, 210, and 525 kg/ha. In 1975, eight genetically diverse genotypes were field tested at five N levels and four irrigation levels. The soil type was a coarse, loamy mixed mesic family of calcic haploxerolls. Analysis of data were for root yield, sucrose percent, gross sugar, and impurity index. Highly significant main effects due to N in 1974 and 1975 and water in 1975 were observed for all measured parameters. A significant genotype (V) ✕ N (N) interaction was obtained in 1974 for all parameters. There was an apparent genotype ✕ water interaction in 1975; however, unbiased statistical inferences could not be made because of the experimental design. These interactions indicate that genetic variation exists such that new cultivars may be developed that give high sugar production at low N levels or are not affected adversely in quality at a high N level; i.e., high yield—high sugar percent, rather than high yield—low sugar percent.

Fodder beet and sugar beet (Beta vulgarisL.) cultivars were evaluated in field trials at six locations to assess the potential ethanol fuel production from beet crops in the USA. This research was stimulated by the potential world petroleum fuel shortages in the 1970s and a need to assay the merit of sugar and starch crops for potential alcohol fuel production. Fodder beet cultivars had greater root weight and less sucrose content than sugar beet. Fodder beets contained more glucose and fructose than sugar beet but these sugars amounted to < 1% of the total sugar content. Average potential ethanol production for all locations was 5.34 and 6.38 kL ha−1in 1980 and 1981, respectively, for fodder beet, compared to 5.36 and 6.68 kL ha−1for sugar beet cultivars. Salinas, CA, with a long growing season, had a potential alcohol yield from beets of 8.64 kL ha−1, while potential ethanol yields at Fargo, ND, where the growing season is short, were <5.00 kL ha−1. Adapted sugar beet hybrids show better promise than fodder beet as a fuel crop in the USA, since sugar beet produces an equal or greater quantity of fermentable sugar, has less bulk to transport, more extractable sugar per unit mass, and resistance to prevalent sugar beet diseases.