Akademik Məlumat İdarəetmə Sistemi
Technology Audit and Production Reserves, vol.5, no.3, pp.42-48, 2025 (Scopus)
The object of the research is the storage conditions of sugar beets (Beta vulgaris). One of the most challenging areas is the reduction in sucrose content during storage under normal conditions prior to processing. The study focused on storing sugar beets in a refrigerated chamber to preserve the quality of the raw material, slow down respiration processes, minimize sugar loss, and extend shelf life. This allows for the use of sugar beets not only during the mass harvest but also over a long period, ensuring a uniform plant load and creating a reserve of environmentally friendly and technologically suitable raw materials for the stable operation of sugar production during the off-season. The study utilized various methods of storing sugar beets in a refrigerated chamber, including storage at temperatures of +2 to +3°C and at a relative humidity of 85–95%. The study also employed the same storage conditions but with the use of sulfur dioxide. It was found that when stored in a refrigerated chamber with sulfur dioxide fumigation every ten days, sucrose content decreased by 2.6%. After 90 days, a decrease of 5.9% and 3.3%, respectively, was recorded, and on the last day of storage, i. e., after 120 days, a decrease of 7.2% and 3.9% was recorded. This is due to the fact that the use of sulfur dioxide inhibits the activity of oxidoreductases and hydrolases, which reduces the consumption of sucrose and other nutrients in the respiration process. This increases the shelf life of sugar beets and allows them to be used not only during the mass harvest but also over a long period, ensuring a uniform plant load. Under these conditions, the content of sucrose and other nutrients decreases slightly, and the yield of granulated sugar increases. Compared to similar known sugar beet storage methods, this method provides a supply of environmentally friendly and technologically suitable raw materials for the stable operation of sugar production during the off-season.