One possibility to increase the yield of sugarbeets is the cultivation of winter beets or beets sown earlier in spring. Thus, a better synchronisation of canopy formation and the intensive radiation in early spring can be achieved. This study aimed at analyzing the impact of different sowing dates in autumn and in spring on yield formation and quality development of sugarbeets. For that purpose, a field trial was conducted in 2006/07 with sowing dates in August, mid and end of September as well as in February, March and April. In autumn-sown sugarbeets the earliest sown beets had the highest yield, sugar content, marc content as well as lowest potassium, sodium and alpha-amino-N-content at the different harvest dates. In contrast, in spring-sown beets no significant differences due to the sowing date occurred. Sowing in autumn positively affects the early development of sugarbeets and thus light absorption, while this did not hold true for an earlier sowing date in spring. Hence, sugarbeet yield could be increased by autumn-sowing. In particular, higher yields could be achieved earlier in the year provided, that the beets do not bolt. An alternative use of winter beets as whole plant with bolters could be for biogas production, since the technical quality in its original sense does not play a role and biogas production benefits from the high yield.
