Yield Response of Sugarcane to Stalk Density and Subsurface Drainage Treatments

Abstract

ABSTRACT Afield experiment was conducted in South Louisiana during 1980-1982 on a 3.24 ha tract of Commerce silt loam soil to determine the yield response of sugarcane to stalk density and subsurface drainage treatments. Four sugarcane planting patterns, each with and without subsurface drainage were as follows: (a) conventional - cane planted in a single V-furrow on seedbeds 1.8 m apart, (b) wide furrow - cane planted in 0.45 m wide furrows on seedbeds 1.8 m apart, (c) triple drill - cane planted in three V-furrows spaced 0.3 m apart on seedbeds 1.8 m apart, and d) 0.6-m V-furrows -cane planted in single V-furrows 0.6 m apart. Each treatment was replicated four times. Three crops were harvested - plant, first ratoon, and second ratoon in 1980, 1981, and 1982, respectively. Yields of sugarcane were significantly different among planting patterns in plant and second ratoon crops but not in the first ratoon. The 0.6 m V-furrow treatment had the highest yield of sugarcane in the plant crop, 124 t/ha, which was 70% more than the conventional V-furrow treatment, and the lowest yield in second ratoon, 38.8 t/ha, which was 30% less than conventional. In a combined analysis using all three years of data, the triple drill treatments had the highest yield of sugarcane among planting patterns, 79.2 t/ha, which was 17% more than the conventional treatment. Sugar yield was significantly different among planting patterns only in the plant crop. Sugar yield from the 0.6 m V-furrow was highest among planting patterns, 14.9 t/ha, which was 55% more than the conventional treatment. Sugarcane yields from undrained plots were significantly lower than those in drained plots in second ratoon and in a combined analysis for the 3-year cycle. Sugarcane yields from drained plots in the second ratoon crop and in the combined analysis were 45% and 10% more, respectively, than yields from the undrained plots. Sugar yields were significantly different due to drainage treatments in second ratoon only, when yields from the drained plots were 26% more than yields from the undrained plots. The rate at which sugarcane yields declined in ratoon crops was slowed by subsurface drainage. Although this experiment showed that non-conventional planting patterns increased yields in the plant crop, additional work is needed on maintaining high yields into first and second ratoons before these new planting practices can be recommended to sugarcane growers. Subsurface drainage should be included in sugarcane production practices to reduce the adverse effects of high water table on sugarcane and sugar yields.