Sugar Beet Grown Using Nutrient Film Technique: Yield and Nutritional Quality

Abstract

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L cv Great Western Sugar) was grown using the nutrient film technique with a half‐strength modified Hoagland nutrient solution to determine its biomass yield and nutritional quality. After 6 months, storage root and foliage weights per plant were 493·1 g and 551·0 g, respectively. Sucrose content in the fresh storage root was 118·4 g kg−1 but was less than 10 g kg−1 in the fresh leaves and petioles. Some nutrients in the leaves and petioles were analysed to evaluate their potential as a leafy vegetable. Fresh leaf protein, total dietary fibre, mineral (Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe and K), vitamin (carotene, ascorbic acid and thiamine) and oxalic acid concentrations were similar to those of consumer‐accepted green vegetables.