Effect of soil conditions and mechanical characteristics of sugar beet roots on the value of force necessary for pulling them out

A specially constructed measuring ap- paratus, made in the Department of Agricultural Production Technology in Rzesz 3w, was used to measure the force necessary for extracting sugar beet roots from the soil. The effect of selected geometric characteristics of the roots (length, diameter) and their depth in the soil on the value of force necessary for removal of roots from the soil was determined. The variation of force necessary for root extracting was analysed with reference to beet variety, soil compactness and soil moisture content. Irrespective of the root size, variety and field (plantation), the recorded average values of force were found to vary widely in a range from 297.9 to 669.0 N. In some cases forces up to 1000 N were recorded