Production of Sugar Beet and Maize as Energy Crops in Saline Alkali Soil

The production of sugar beet and maize as energy crops were investigated in saline alkali soil in China during three growing seasons. A dramatically decreases of yield of grains and starch of maize was found in both medium and heavy saline-alkali soil in the three years. But there were no decreases of yield of root and sucrose of sugar beet in medium saline-alkali soil and reduction of yield of root and sucrose of sugar beet in heavy medium saline-alkali were faintly. The results indicate that sugar beet is more tolerant to salt stress and maintains higher production of sugar may be a major bioethanol crops in saline-alkali soil in China.