Seed propagation
Two years for top quality
Before sugarbeet seed from KWS ends up in the field, it has already been on a long journey – across several borders. We show the five steps involved in producing it.
Between cultivation and shipment, the seed passes through various stages of testing, refinement and quality control. Its production is complex and highly precise, requiring perfect interplay between nature, experience and technology. Only in this way can it deliver reliable yields for farmers. Seed production requires two growing seasons: The sugarbeet forms roots in the first year. It then needs to be exposed to cold stimulus for several weeks in order to flower and form seeds in the second year.
If you’d like to learn more about seed processing, you can find an info graphic in the welcome issue of insideKWS.
Video tip: What does sugarbeet planting look like in practice? A farmer from the Hildesheimer Börde plain in Germany takes us out into the field and talks about his experience with KWS seed. Watch it now in World of Farming. |
Quantity, variety, region – Planning two years in advance
The journey begins long before sowing: KWS plans how much seed of which variety needs to be produced two years before it is used in the field. Market forecasts, variety properties and customer requirements all play a role. Geographical planning is also important: Large distances must be maintained between varieties with different properties. This prevents unwanted cross-breeding, as wind can carry pollen for miles.
The first growth phase – Stecks in the propagation regions
In August, the basic seed from KWS in Einbeck is sown in fields in the U.S., Türkiye and KWS’ main propagation regions (Northern Italy and Southwest France). The conditions there are ideal: fertile soils, just the right amount of coolness in winter, and a wealth of experience among the growers with whom KWS works closely. Strong stecks develop over the fall and winter. They undergo the necessary cold period – vernalization, a natural “switch” to trigger flowering. Covered with fleece, the stecks mature and are harvested in February.
Flowering, pollination, harvesting – Seed propagation in the field
The core part of seed production now begins: The stecks are planted out again – this time with female and male plants in strip cultivation in separate rows. In spring, the plants bolt, form flowers, and are pollinated in May over a period of about four weeks. Drip irrigation makes efficient use of water and ensures the health of the plants. After pollination, the pollen donor is removed: Only the seed of the female plant is harvested. This is done from July to the beginning of August.
Cleaning and quality testing – Selection based on clear criteria
Immediately after harvesting, the seed is pre-cleaned in the propagation regions. Straw, soil and seeds that are too large or too small are removed. Crucial factors include high germination capacity, vigor, varietal purity and the specific genetic traits that guarantee that only seed with the desired properties ends up in customers’ fields. It is then sent to KWS in Einbeck for further processing.
Processing and refinement in Einbeck – Technology, coating, final control
In Einbeck, the seed is refined in the world’s largest facility for sugarbeet seed. It is sorted, calibrated, polished and selected using X-ray and computed tomography technology. The coating subsequently applied during the pelleting process protects the seed and improves handling. Fungicides, insecticides and the characteristic orange color are now applied with precision. Finally, a last quality inspection is conducted before the seed is packaged and dispatched. Last season, KWS shipped approximately 3.3 million seed boxes for about 2.75 million hectares to farmers worldwide.
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