Two data sets have been used in this analysis of climatic conditions and their effects on sugarbeet yield. The first is a period from 1963 to 2007; the second is a period 1988 - 2007. Both periods were as analyzed for the same parameters. A comparison of the two data sets indicated that the average temperature for the growing season was increased by 0.4 0 C (2.2%), the precipitation by 13 lm -2 (3.5%), ETR (actual evapotranspiration) by 4 lm -2 (1%), and the precipitation deficit by 10 lm -2 (5.6%). However, the overall picture changed when the climatic data were partitioned into three sub-periods, the dry sub-period (25% of the analyzed years), the average sub-period (50% of the years) and the humid sub-period (25% of the years). When the data were analyzed in that fashion, the drought became pronounced in the dry years, slightly increased in the average years and practically insignificant in the humid years. Unfortunately, yield performance did not follow this trend in climatic conditions, particularly not in the humid years.

sugarbeet; yield; climatic conditions

Presentation: oral