Sugarcane Improvement for Ratooning
Project coordinator : Artasit Boontum
In Thailand, normally irrigated sugarcane produces 2 ratoon crops and the cane yield is less than 75 t/ha/crop, whereas sugarcane under rainfed condition produces only a single ratoon and the yield is less than 62 t/ha. Cultural practice, cane pest infection and ratooning potential of each cane variety are the three main factors affecting the ratooning ability and the cane yield potential. This project was initiated to solve ratooning problems and the results are summarized as follow ;
The study of replanting in ratoon crop
In ratoon crop, gaps can often arise in more than 20 % of the area and consequently have an effect on ratoon cane yield. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the best methods of gap filling in the ratoon crop. Water application is necessary for gap filling because it can improve germination and tiller vigor. Gap filling with irrigation had a lower stool loss than without irrigation. In both the first and second ratoon crop, gap filling using tillers that had been separated from stools had a lower percentage of stool damage than conventional replanting (by using cane sets). However, growth and performance of tillers from replanting stools was poorer than the remaining ratoon because of the shading effects. Cane yield, yield components and sugar content of replanting cane were also lower than the remaining ratoon. In both the first and second ratoon crop.
Effect of trash conservation and various chemical fertilizer application on ratoon cane yield.
Field experiments to study the effect of trash conservation without burning and with various chemical fertilizer regimes showed that the soil physical properties were improved. However, there were no significant cane yield differences between with and without burning in the plant crop. The results also indicated that when cane was planted in the soil on which the trash was burnt, applications of chemical fertilizer was necessary. With trash conservation without burning both the replanting and post harvest first ratoon crop gave significantly higher yields than when trash was burnt . In burnt cane, the first ratoon crop gave poor growth and yellowish leaves and responded to application of nitrogen fertilizer more than that with the trash blanket. Trash burning also had effects on the weed population, increasing them, together with having effects on the soil moisture conservation in the first ratoon crop because of a reduction in organic matter that resulted in negative effects on the soil physical properties. Trash burning had no effect on sugar content. This trial showed that P and K had no significant effect on 1st ratoon cane yield and sugar content in both the trash blanket and burnt can treatments. This result was in keeping with the results of the plant crop.
Potential yield of 4 sugarcane varieties.
The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the potential yield of 4 sugarcane varieties U-Thong 1, U-Thong 2, K 84-2100 and 90-1 under well irrigated conditions. The result indicated that for plant cane U-Thong 1 gave the highest yield of 143 t/ha followed by 90-1 (131 t/ha) K 84-200 (112 t/ha) and U-Thong 2 (106 t/ha). For first ratoon cane, it was found that clone 90-1 gave the highest yield of 81 t/ha whereas K 84-200, U-Thong 1 and U-Thong 2 gave the yield of 77, 75 and 60 t/ha respectively.
Effects of irrigation after harvest on ratooning of sugarcane.
This experiment was studied during 1993-1995. The main objective was to examine the importance of soil moisture after harvest on the ratooning of sugarcane. The results showed that immediate irrigation after harvest gave an increase in the numbers of stalks per stool and millable canes than cane irrigated one mouth after harvest. As a result, ratoon crop yield was also increased. It can be concluded that irrigation after harvest should be recommended to farmers in areas where irrigation is available.
The long term relationship between soil properties and sugarcane production.
The fifth year of an ongoing study into the long term relationship between soil properties and sugarcane production was assessed at Suphan Buri FCRC in 1995. It was found that there were no significant differences in cane yields between the two main plots (sugarcane monocropping and sugarcane intercropped with mungbean), while mungbeans which were planted at 40 % of the recommened rate gave moderately high yields. The results of fertilizer treatments showed no significant difference in cane yield, however cane that had been fertilized with 12-12-12 had the highest yields. Analysis of the soil properties year by year after harvesting showed a continued decrease in phosphorus and potassium in all treatments, nevertheless soil fertilized with phosphorus and potassium had more available phosphorus and potassium left over than soil without applications.
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SUGARCANE@
[RATOONING]
[SALINE SOIL]
[WATER STRESS]
[QUALITY]
[SPECIFIC REGIONS]
[RAINFED CONDITION]
[SUSTAINABLE]
[CANE SETT]
[JUICE CANE]