Response of High Yielding Varieties of Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) to Waterlogging

Abstract

Unfavorable weather in the Philippines leaves the sugarcane industry vulnerable to losses from flooded fields. A system of identification should be developed to supplement the country’s lack of sugarcane varieties tolerant to waterlogging. This study investigated the effect of waterlogging imposed during the early stalk elongation stage on sugarcane grown in contrasting soil types. In 2017–2018, two split-plot trials at the Institute of Plant Biology (IPB) University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños experimental area and UP La Granja (La Carlota City, Negros Occidental) evaluated the response of 10 high yielding varieties (HYVs) to flooding for 2 wk during stalk elongation stage [6 mo after planting (MAP)]. Waterlogged sugarcane varieties showed a location-dependent response in terms of projected ton cane per hectare (Tc ha–1) and sugar yield in 50-kg bags per hectare (Lkg ha–1). Waterlogging in the UP La Granja trial affected cane and sugar yield with Phil 2000-2569, Phil 2000-1419, Phil 2000-2155, and Phil 2003-1389 losing 22.3–35.8% in cane tonnage. The IPB trial showed no significant effect of waterlogging, primarily due to continuous reflooding. Geometric mean productivity (GMP) and stress tolerance index (STI) values confirm varietal productivity is location-dependent. Phil 2000-1419 and Phil 2000-2569 have the highest GMP and STI for the IPB trial and UP La Granja trial, respectively. GMP and STI models provide aid in selection for waterlogging tolerance.