WHEAT AND SUGAR BEET GROWING ZONE
The wheat-sugar beet zone, like that of rye and potato cultivation, is characterized by diverse cultivation, which includes forage crops and thus enables intensive livestock farming. In contrast to the aforementioned zone, however, there are significantly better soils here. In Eastern Europe there is also a particularly favorable climate (regular north-south sequence of cultivation zones).
In contrast to rye, the leading grain wheat makes higher demands on the climate and the soil; The latter must be rich in humus and calcareous, preferably loess soils and black earth. Important prerequisites for good yields are mild winters, sufficient rainfall during the main growing season and a summer dry season to maturity. Wheat yields depend on the intensity of cultivation, such as the use of fertilizers and irrigation. The location requirements of the sugar beetare very similar to those of wheat, which is why sugar beet and wheat often appear together. Exceptions to this rule are some locations to the east of the Volga and in northern Africa. Sugar beet has the best growing conditions in very good, loose soils in a mild, maritime climate with high humidity; towards the end of the growing season it needs a lot of solar radiation.
To the south and east, the large-scale cultivation of grain maize and sunflowers for oil production is added to the cultivation of wheat. The sunflower needs warm climates in order to be able to mature. Maize is a heat-loving short-day plant and needs 130 to 150 frost-free days.
The wheat and sugar beet zone is almost free from forests. In the south it merges into the zone of Mediterranean cultivation, to the east of the Volga, on the other hand, its southern edge is close to the dry line of arable farming. In the transition area to the zone of semi-deserts and deserts, there are often areas that are used for animal husbandry. For more information about the continent of Europe, please check softwareleverage.org.
