Sugar beet seed production is a highly specialised cultivation requiring deep agronomic knowledge and advanced machinery. One of its most critical challenges — the mechanical control of volunteer sugar beet plants that germinate spontaneously from seed lost during the previous harvest — has found an effective solution in the Rotosark inter-row weeder from Oliver Agro.
The Specific Challenge of Sugar Beet Seed Crops
In sugar beet seed production, volunteer beet plants that germinate from seed lost during the previous harvest become herbicide-resistant weeds — because they belong to the same species as selective herbicides’ target (e.g. Conviso). Chemical control is therefore ineffective or impossible. Mechanical weeding with the Rotosark is the only reliable solution for eliminating them without resistance risk.
Rotosark Performance Data on Sugar Beet Seed
Real field data on organic sugar beet seed cultivation in 6 rows at 45 cm spacing:
- Rotosark approach to plant: 1–2 cm, reducing row labour by 90–95% compared to manual weeding
- Working speed: significantly faster than traditional rotary tillers, which operate at only 1.5–2 km/h with high energy consumption
- Machine depreciation cost: approximately €35/ha for 3–4 passes
- Tractor operator cost: approximately €16/ha per pass
- Total mechanical weeding cost: approximately €42–51/ha vs. €1,275/ha for manual labour in the presence of resistant weeds (85 h/ha)
The Rotosark is used when the plant is just established in the soil — 7 days after transplanting or 10 days after sowing. Preventive action is the winning strategy.
Supported Row Configurations
The Rotosark supports the typical configurations of sugar beet seed production:
- 6 female seed rows at 70 cm + 3 male seed rows at 55 cm inter-row spacing
- 3 female seed rows at 70 cm + 2 male seed rows at 55 cm
The Rotosark’s modularity allows the configuration to be adapted to the specific harvesting layout.
Rotosark vs Traditional Rotary Tillers
Compared to traditional rotary tillers used in sugar beet seed cultivation, the Rotosark offers:
- Fuel savings: rotary tillers are notoriously expensive in energy consumption — the Rotosark works with significantly lower power demand
- Reduced spare part wear: simpler mechanical design, fewer parts subject to intensive wear
- Higher working speed: increased overall farm productivity
- Approach to 1–2 cm from the plant: without damaging the root system, essential in seed beet where every plant lost represents a direct loss of seed production
Frequently Asked Questions on Mechanical Weeding of Sugar Beet Seed
Why is mechanical weeding necessary in sugar beet seed crops?
In sugar beet seed production, volunteer beet plants germinating from seed lost during the previous harvest become herbicide-resistant weeds — because they belong to the same species as selective herbicides’ target (e.g. Conviso). Mechanical weeding with the Rotosark is the only effective solution for eliminating them without resistance risk.
What is the working speed of the Rotosark on sugar beet seed vs rotary tillers?
The Rotosark works at significantly higher speeds than traditional rotary tillers, which operate at only 1.5–2 km/h with high energy consumption. This translates into direct savings in fuel, time and spare part wear — with an immediate positive impact on cost per hectare.
Which row configurations does the Rotosark support for sugar beet seed?
The Rotosark supports the typical sugar beet seed configurations: 6 female rows at 70 cm + 3 male rows at 55 cm, or 3 female rows at 70 cm + 2 male rows at 55 cm. The Rotosark’s modularity allows adaptation to the specific harvesting layout.
Does the Rotosark work close to the sugar beet seed plant without damaging it?
Yes. The Rotosark is designed to work close to the plant — to 1–2 cm from the row — without touching roots or leaves, thanks to the hardened flat hoe that does not ridge. This is essential in sugar beet seed crops, where every damaged plant represents a direct loss of seed production.
For information on the Rotosark configuration specific to your sugar beet seed cultivation, contact the Oliver Agro team — we will guide you to the most suitable solution for your operation.