Uses of mathematical models in sugar beet agriculture

In the presence of adequate nutrients, the important environmental variables that determine sugar beet growth and yield are: temperature, radiation, rainfall, potential evapotranspiration and soil available water content. It is important to understand the integrated effects of these variables on the production of crop dry matter and sugar yield if reliable mathematical models are required to accurately predict sugar beet growth and yield between years and across regions. This paper describes the current and potential uses of mathematical models in sugar beet production with specific references in the UK.