Sugarcane Genotype Selection on a Sand Soil with and without Added Mill Mud

Abstract

In Florida, long‐term results for identifying high yielding sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) cultivars have been better for Histosols (muck soils) than sand soils. We examined whether selection could be improved by comparing genotypes on a sand soil with and without added mill mud (MM) (in Florida, MM is primarily muck soil). One Erianthus and 31 sugarcane genotypes were planted in 2007 with MM at 0 or 1510 m3 ha–1 in main plots and genotypes as subplots in a 3‐yr field experiment on a Margate sand soil (siliceous, hyperthermic Mollic Psammaquent). Commercial recoverable sucrose (CRS) (g kg–1), and cane (CY) and sucrose (SY) yields (Mg ha–1) were determined during the next 3 yr. Mill mud reduced CRS from 127 to 111 g kg–1 but increased cane and sucrose yields from 80 to 150 and 10 to 17 Mg ha–1, respectively. Compared with the check of CP 89‐2143, 2, 10, and 8 genotypes were differentially affected by soil treatment (P = 0.10) for CRS, CY, and SY, respectively. CP 01‐2390 was the most adapted sand genotype; its CYs on sand with and without MM were 147 and 143 Mg ha–1, respectively. Compared with previous research, CY responses were well predicted for five genotypes, but poorly predicted for four genotypes in this study. Multiple locations are needed for sugarcane genotype selection on sand soils. Using a sand soil with and without added MM can be a useful supplemental, rather than singular approach for improving sugarcane genotype selection in Florida.