Research of sugar beet harvesting quality

Abstract

Sugar beet is one of basic plants in Lithuania as they are main raw material of sugar production and bio fuels too. One of significant parts of sugar beet production is harvesting. Agricultural equipment manufacturers are providing a lot of sugar beet combine harvesters. Self-propelled harvesters are expensive, but are more convenient, safer and harvesting quality parameters are better. Most popular in Lithuania are sugar beet selfpropelled combine harvesters are from Ropa, Holmer, Kleine, Vervaet manufacturing companies. Main work quality characteristics of harvesters Kleine SF10, Holmer Terra Dos T3, Ropa Euro Tiger V8-3 and Vervaet Beet Eater 617 were established in the 20 hectares of sugar beet field in Kedainiai region 22 October 2010. Special 5 point system method was used for evaluation partition of sugar beet crown, lift of roots, cleaning losses, amount of green mass in roots and amount of dirt on roots. It was established, that partition of sugar beet crown losses were 7–12% (average 3.25 points), lift of roots losses were 5–7% (average 3.62 points), average evaluation of cleaning losses were 3.5 points, amount of green mass in roots – 3.25 points, amount of dirt on roots – 3.57 points.