An Integrated Approach to Energy Beet Production in California.

As contemporary society searches for renewable resources, many research have been focusing on the assessment of potential biofuel crops, such as corn, sorghum, sugarbeet and sugar cane.  Over the past few years, ethanol production from Midwest-sourced corn crops has increased in California. However, production has not always been cost-effective due to high transportation costs and relatively lower energy yielding crops. Production of ethanol from sugarbeets, referred to as “Energy beets”, presents numerous advantages, including zone of production in the Central San Joaquin Valley (SJV) and higher energy yields (BTUs) per acre versus corn. Historically, sugarbeets have been of significant agronomic, economic and social importance throughout California. Due to competitive economic factors, only one sugar factory is currently operating.  This was the impetus for creating the Mendota Advanced Bioenergy Beet Cooperative formed by local growers. However, for the bio-refinery to be economically competitive, sustainable yields of energy beets need to be increased.  Thus, the goal of our research is to evaluate different irrigation methods and nitrogen (N) fertilizer practices to increase sugar and British Thermal Units (BTU) yields of energy beets. In particular, this research focuses on comparing the yield, BTU, sugar content, and N uptake of energy beets grown under drip irrigation (70 and 100% of evapotranspiration) and the traditional flood practice, with varying levels of N fertilizers (0 to 200 lbs N/acre).  Preliminary data collected from a first-year study conducted on a sandy and clay loam soil in Central SJV will be presented.  The project could be important to California agriculture by reestablishing an economically viable crop and environmentally friendly product that will have significant statewide implications.