Introduction of new formula for determination of autumn sugar beet purchase

This study was carried to modify current sugar beet purchase formula into linear base 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 by four-hours intervals from delivery vehicles 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 sugar, and extraction coefficient of sugar were determined. Also, results of all 4084 delivery vehicles belonging to five contractors were statistically analyzed for sugar content (SC), sugar beet price drop per ton, and 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 times lower than base price (16%) and 5.5 times lower than total SC average in 2007 (18.29%). Average crop loss (estimated visually) was 11.92% (in the range of 2 to 50%) with SD of 0.847. The average crop loss of Ahvaz factory was nine times greater than total average in 2007 (about 3% for 4,282,805 tons of sugar beet). Technical quality results showed that average moisture content of autumn sowing samples collected from Khozestan province was 79% which was 4% higher than normal beet (75% moisture content or 25% dray matter). Based on autumn sugar beet quality in Khozestan, new purchase price formula with three different coefficients was introduced for SC in the range of 10 to 24%. In this formula, the purchase price per ton can be calculated by following equations: a) SC of 10 to 15% {base price × (((SC×12) – 80))/100}, b) 15 to 20% {base price × ((SC×0.065) + 0.025)} and c) SC equal or grater than 20% {base price × 1.325}. Application of the new formula for estimation of sugar beet purchase price for autumn sowing samples in Khozestan may improve the quality of sugar beet. Consequently, both sugar factory and growers will benefit from this win-win formula.