Low sugar content, despite high root tonnage, has characterized sugar beet production for several years in the Cuyama Valley, of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Field trials indicate that large amounts of nitrogen available at the usual harvest time may be responsible. The sudden presence of this nitrogen is probably accounted for by the decomposition of previous crop residues as soil temperatures increase in late summer. However, as a result of this ample supply of nitrogen, beet root yields increased 1.6 tons per acre each week from August 16 (normal first harvest date) to November 10 and sugar production increased 2 1/2 tons for a total of 6 tons of sugar produced per acre at this later harvest date.

Matt Vanetti, of Union Sugar, assisted with the trials and the anlysis of samples for sucrose content.