Storage Parameters for Sugar Beet

Capacity

Storage chambers can vary from 500 to 3,500 tons per room, depending on design and operational needs. For stable storage, a fresh-air supply capacity of ~120 m³ per ton is recommended. This ensures that respiration heat and gases produced by the beets are efficiently removed. If ventilation is insufficient, hot spots form inside piles, leading to local heating and rapid spoilage.

Temperature

The optimal storage temperature is close to 0 °C. At this level, the metabolic activity of roots slows dramatically, reducing sugar losses and respiration heat. Even a small increase in temperature accelerates respiration, while freezing below –1 °C can damage tissues and cause irreversible quality loss.

Humidity

Relative humidity should be maintained at around 95%. Beets lose water quickly in dry conditions, which leads to weight loss, shriveling, and reduced sugar content. At the same time, excessively high humidity without proper ventilation increases the risk of mold. Therefore, a balance of high but controlled humidity is critical.

CO₂

During storage, beets continue to respire, releasing carbon dioxide (CO₂). Concentrations above 5% negatively affect root physiology, accelerating spoilage and increasing sugar losses. Proper ventilation or gas-exchange systems are essential to keep CO₂ within safe limits and maintain a uniform atmosphere inside the pile or chamber.

Storage Life

• With modern refrigeration systems, sugar beets can be stored year-round, ensuring raw material supply even outside the harvest season.
• With only aeration systems, beets can typically be kept until April, after which temperature fluctuations and losses become too high.

Choosing between aeration and refrigeration depends on the business model: long-term processing or short-term seasonal use.

Loading Parameters

When placing beets into storage, it is crucial to cool them as quickly as possible. Rapid cooling stabilizes root respiration and minimizes early losses. Delays in cooling create conditions for microbial growth and local heating. Beets can be stored in both bulk piles and container systems. Bulk storage is more economical but requires well-designed airflow distribution. Container storage offers easier monitoring and better isolation of batches, reducing the risk of cross-contamination.

Conclusion: Properly managed storage of sugar beets — with attention to temperature, humidity, gas balance, and cooling speed — allows minimizing losses, stabilizing sugar content, and ensuring reliable supply for processing plants.