**4. Ecological demand**

Beetroots cannot be grown on extreme soil types such as sandy, saline, and stony soils. The best quality and quantity of beetroots can be harvested from loamy, sandy loam, and humus-rich sandy soils. Frequent watering causes loosening of the loose, sandy soil, which strengthens the root of the beet body, degrades the quality of the harvested beetroots and makes them more difficult to clean. The optimal soil pH for the cultivation of the plant is between 6.5−7.5 pH [12]. After sowing the beetroot seeds, the harvest takes place 75–90 days in summer and 100–120 days in winter [13].

Beetroots can be classified as plants with medium water requirements. During germination and in the initial developmental stage of the plant, it requires a higher amount of continuous soil moisture, which is important for even germination (homogeneous stock) and initial development. Except for this period, beetroots are less sensitive to water shortages compared to other root vegetables.

In terms of light requirements, beets are a medium-demand vegetable. It develops well even in weaker, diffused light, but in this case, the beet body has less color and sugar content.

Beetroots have a medium heat demand, which fluctuates significantly during development. According to Markov−Haen's law, the optimum temperature for beetroots is 19° C. Germination starts at 5−6° C, but germination is fastest at 25−26° C [12]. Lower

temperatures promote the formation of deep red pigments [13]. It is most sensitive to the cold at a young age but develops well during the growing season at much higher and lower than optimal temperatures. If exposed to low temperatures for a long time, it produces seed stalks in the first year and disturbs the development of the beet body. Due to its sensitivity to frost, it should be harvested before frost.

Like all other plants, beetroots have a certain need for nutrients. Knowing this, it is possible to determine which fertilizer and in what amount can be used to obtain the best quality crop. Beetroot is a medium-nutrient vegetable in terms of phosphorus and nitrogen, but it needs more potassium during its development. Per one ton of crop, the specific nutrient requirements of beetroots from the mentioned macronutrients are as follows: 2.4 kg of nitrogen, 1.4 kg of phosphorus, and 6 kg of potassium are needed to grow vegetables of the desired quality [12]. Particular attention should be paid to the addition of nitrogen, because in the event of an overdose, the quality of the beet body will deteriorate, resulting in poorer storage of nitrate and a reduction in color and dry matter content. In addition, the plant's resistance to disease is reduced by excess nitrogen. Of the trace elements, it is particularly sensitive to manganese deficiency [10].

Both organic and fertilizer can be used to meet the nutrient needs of plants. In the case of beetroots, the use of organic fertilizer is not recommended, as fresh stable manure results in an overdeveloped, deformed crop with an unpleasant taste [14].

It is important that the chemical, biological and physical contamination of the plant is as low as possible in order to validate its positive effects. Of these, the risk of chemical contamination is particularly noticeable in the case of beetroots, as the presence of root vegetables can accumulate a large amount of residues of fertilizers and fungicides (pesticides). That is particularly dangerous because the human body can convert the absorbed material into a substance (that is more dangerous than the original active ingredient instead of emptying it) or store it. Harmful substances accumulated or transformed in this way can cause allergic reactions, immune disorders, gene mutations, and possibly carcinogenic effects even years later [15].

As the most common chemical contaminants in the case of root vegetables, including beetroots, are the accumulation of nitrite and nitrate, efforts should be made to keep their content to a minimum. Inorganic nitrogen from fertilizers, most of which is not incorporated into tissues, can accumulate in plants in significant amounts in the form of nitrite and nitrate. The degree of accumulation can be influenced by number of factors, such as the lettuce has higher nitrate content during cultivation if less sunlight or molybdenum and iron are obtained, which are essential micronutrients [16].
