Sugarcane (Saccharum) Production by Minimum Cultivation, Fenac, and Terbacil

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharuminterspecific hybrids) grown without cultivation but maintained relatively weed-free with herbicides and hand hoeing, produced yields of sugarcane/ha and sugar/ha in the plant, first-ratoon, and second-ratoon crops that were 100%, 95%, and 88%, respectively, of the yield of sugarcane cultivated two to four times annually. Standard cultural practice involves at least two cultivations, namely, the off-barring and the fertilizational cultivations. Additional cultivations did not substantially increase yield. When sugarcane yield was affected either by cultivation or herbicide treatment, stalk population rather than stalk weight was affected the most. Johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense(L.) Pers.] and annual weeds were controlled effectively in both cultivated and non-cultivated sugarcane with broadcast, preemergence application of fenac [(2,3,6-trichlorophenyl)acetic acid] at 5 kg/ha or terbacil (3-tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-methyluracil) at 1.8 kg/ha. Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundusL.), however, was controlled only with a combination of fenac or terbacil and periodic cultivation.