Document Type : Scientific - Research
Authors
1
Associate Professor of Sugar Beet Seed Institute (SBSI), Iran
2
Instructor of Dezful Agricultural Research Center, Iran
3
Instructor of Sugar Beet Seed Institute, Iran
4
Former manager of Ahvaz sugar factory, Iran
Abstract
This study aimed to modify the current purchase formula of sugar beet into a formula with different coefficients with respect to sugar percentage of autumn sugar beet. Ahvaz sugar factory was selected as an autumn sowing factory in Iran and 163 samples were randomly taken at different delivery times in 2007 (28th April to 27th June). From each truck, one sample was taken and sugar content, water content, marc, brix, reducing sugar, sodium, potassium, amino nitrogen, molasses sugars, and extraction coefficient of sugar were determined. Simultaneouly, results of all 4084 delivery samples during the campaign of the factory including 68801 tons beet belonging to three agro-industry companies and two contractors as well as Safiabad Agriculture Research Center, were statistically analyzed for sugar content (SC), soil tare, sugar beet price per tone and the paid price per vehicle. Results showed that average sugar content for all delivery vehicles was 12.84% (in the range of 10 to 15.20%) with standard deviation (SD) of 0.847. Average sugar content of Ahvaz factory was 3 units lower than the base price (16%) and 5.5 units lower than the average SC of the country in 2007 (18.29%). Average soil tare of the delivery vehicles (estimated visually) was 11.92% (in the range of 2 to 50%) with SD of 6.613. The average soil tare of Ahvaz factory was nine units greater than the country’s average in 2007 (about 3% for 4,282,805 tones of beets). Quality analysis, results showed that the average moisture content of delivery beets from autumn sowing in Khozestan province was 79% which was 4% higher than normal beet (75% moisture content or 25% dry matter). According to the results of this research and considering the potential of the region and with the aim at increasing the sugar content of the autum sowing sugar beet in Khoozestan, new formula for purchase price with three different coefficients was introduced for SC in the range of 10 to 24%. In this formula, the purchase price for each ton can be calculated by the following equations: a) SC of 10 to 15% {base price × (((SC×12) – 80))/100}, b) higher than 15 and equal to 20% {base price × ((SC×0.065) + 0.025)} and c) SC greater than 20% {base price × 1.325} and compared and analysed with the current formula assuming two units increase in sugar content. Application of the new formula with different coefficients with respect to SC is an important step in purchasing sugar beet based on quality, increasing the average SC of the region and consequently increasing the efficiency of the factory. So, this will support the farmers who are looking for the high quality sugar beet.
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