Sugarcane pre-sprouted seedlings: A novel method for sugarcane establishment

Abstract

A new method of sugarcane establishment using pre-sprouted seedlings (PSS) is under development in Brazil, requiring lower amounts of vegetative material as compared to the conventional method using billets (1–2 versus 12–20 Mg ha−1). The hypotheses set up herein were: i) the sugarcane fields established with PSS achieve similar yields as compared to fields established conventionally and ii) since PSS has lower nutrition reserve as compared to the nutrients reserve within the billets, the nutritional demand of sugarcane may change according to the method of crop establishment. To test the hypothesis, three field trials were carried out within the main periods of sugarcane establishment in Southeast Brazil (fall, winter and spring), varying in fertilization practices. Treatments included conventional planting method with standard fertilization, New method without and under standard fertilization, named from here on as Conv., New method 1 and New method 2, respectively. In both systems, furrows were opened 1.5 m apart m. between rows. Conv. planting method was done with 12–15 buds m−1, while both New methods were done with pre-sprouted seedlings spaced 0.5 m apart within the line. Measurements included tillering, plant nutritional status, stalk yield and stalk quality parameters over three crop cycles (cane-plant, first and second ratoon). Whereas Conv. method improved plant tillering in specific evaluation periods, both New methods lead to similar milleable plants at harvest time in the three crop seasons. Within all crop cycles, plant nutritional status was similar under all planting methods, even without fertilization for the new method 1. More interestingly, regardless of the crop cycle and season in which the trial was set up, under the New method the stalk yields and total recoverable sugars content were similar to the same parameters evaluated for crop established trough Conv. planting method. Based on this long-term study, crop establishment though pre-sprouted seedlings (New method adoption) can be highlighted as a promising opportunity to increase feedstock for ethanol production to attend the increased ethanol demand forecasted for the upcoming years.