Abstract. In this work an attempt was undertaken to verify the usage of criterion of strain failure for carrot roots. A compression test was conducted for different speed of deformation from the range between 8.33 • 10^-3mm/s and 3.33 mm/s. As a result of the carried out experiment absorbed energy, failure stress and strain were obtained. As a model of phenomenon of deformation was used a formula proposed by Murase and Merva which bases on distribution of absorbed energy. Changes of each ingredient of this formula in function of deformation rate was subjected to partly verification based on changes of total absorbed en­ergy, strain and 'calculated energy". The calculated energy was energy absorbed by rheological model describing viscoelastic behaviour of examined material. The results of experiments and calculation showed disproportion between individual components of total energy. Difference between these components can be a predictor of amount of micro damages in studied ma­terial. The carried out investigations allow to confirm the adequacy of using the criterion of strain failure for carrot roots under conditions of experiment.