Impacts of Variety and Hydrogel on Selected Production Traits of Sugar Beet

In a temperate climate, sugar beet is the only crop used for sugar production. However, recently, it has become increasingly affected by hot and dry conditions, which are accompanying signs of climate change. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in which hydrogel was applied using the coating method with the primary goal of reducing biotic and abiotic stress. In the experiments conducted in 2019 and 2020, two varieties (Brian and Kosmas) were used, and the impact of these factors on selected production traits of sugar beet was investigated. The results confirmed a significant effect of hydrogel and variety on the polarized sugar yield, white sugar yield, and concentration of alpha-amino nitrogen in the roots. Furthermore, the variety had a significant effect on the potassium content in the root. Through investigation of three-way interactions, it was found that the variety significantly affected white sugar content and potassium content. An interesting finding was that positive tendencies in most traits were found compared with the control group in an interaction with the hydrogel. Thus, it can be concluded that coating seeds with hydrogel can be considered a suitable tool to achieve sustainability in sugar beet production under stress conditions.