D.A. Cooke and R.K. Scott Sugar beet is one of just two crops (the other being sugar cane) which constitute the only important sources of sucrose - a product with sweeten ing and preserving properties that make it a major component of, or additive to, a vast range of foods, beverages and pharmaceuticals. Sugar, as sucrose is almost invariably called, has been a valued compo nent of the human diet for thousands of years. For the great majority of that time the only source of pure sucrose was the sugar-cane plant, varieties of which are all species or hybrids within the genus Saccharum. The sugar-cane crop was, and is, restricted to tropical and subtropical regions, and until the eighteenth century the sugar produced from it was available in Europe only to the privileged few. However, the expansion of cane production, particularly in the Caribbean area, in the late seventeenth and the eighteenth centuries, and the new sugar-beet crop in Europe in the nineteenth century, meant that sugar became available to an increasing proportion of the world's population.

Sugar beet, alongside sugar cane, is the main source of sugar across the world. Grown widely in Europe, North and South America, Asia and parts of North Africa, the crop is at the core of a multi-billion dollar global industry. A. Philip Draycott has gathered 32 international experts to create this defining text, providing a comprehensive review of the latest research in a clear and accessible form, providing the reader with: Definitive account of this major world crop Coverage of all aspects of successful sugar beet growing Over 2,500 references from international literature Colour images to assist in the identification of sugar beet pests, diseases and nutrient deficiencies All those involved with the crop, including growers and processors, sugar beet and sugar organisations and society members will find this book to be an invaluable resource. Agricultural and plant scientists, food scientists and technologists and all libraries in research institutions where these subjects are studied and taught will find it a valuable addition to their shelves.

After a summary of world sugar production from beets, the authors cover the plant's need of each macro and micronutrient and effects on growth, yield and crop quality. The soil's supply of nutrients is examined as the basis for use of mineral fertilizers, organic manures and foliar applications. The book provides an up-to-date review of relevant research and the authors draw out practical guidelines so that all concerned with growing the crop can make use of this latest information. The book is destined to become the standard reference on the subject for many years to come. It represents the only significant work in English since Dr. Draycott's earlier title on the same subject, published 30 years ago.