Comparative Performance of Sugarcane Bagasse and Black Polyethylene as Mulch for Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) Production

Abstract

Louisiana processed 11.7 million mt of sugarcane in 2016, producing 1.47 million mt of raw sugar and an estimated 3.5 million mt of bagasse. Sugarcane bagasse is the fibrous material remaining after removing the sucrose, water, and other impurities (filter mud) from the millable sugarcane. Typically, Louisiana sugarcane mills burn a portion of the bagasse to heat boilers to steam power the mill for grinding and sugar processing. The balance of the bagasse is stored at the sugar mill where it accumulates in immense piles. Research was conducted in 2015 and 2016 to investigate the use of sugarcane bagasse as a natural mulch for vegetable production. The field experiment compared sugarcane bagasse mulch, black plastic mulch, and no mulch (control) for suitable mulching treatments for squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) production. The black plastic mulch produced significantly greater marketable fruits/plant, fruit number, and total yield (kg/ha) across years compared to the sugarcane bagasse mulch. The sugarcane bagasse mulch and the no mulch control were not significantly different for these same parameters. Black plastic also produced heaver fruit (g/fruit) than the sugarcane bagasse mulch and the control in 2015. The black plastic mulch produced greater yields due to the greater cumulative growing degree days (CGDD) received compared to the sugarcane bagasse mulch and no mulch control. The sugarcane bagasse mulch tended to mitigate temperature extremes by serving as a soil insulator. Future research should investigate the potential deleterious impact, if any, of the sugarcane bagasse on soil microbes, C/N ratio, soil pH, and allelopathy, which might adversely influence cucurbit growth.

Sugarcane Field Residue and Bagasse Allelopathic Impact on Vegetable Seed Germination

“…Due to the abundant annual bagasse surplus (3.5 million mt/yr) at Louisiana sugarcane sugar mills and the present policy of burning sugarcane field residue (70 mt/ha), there is a growing interest in alternative uses of these sugarcane plant materials, including as natural organic mulches for vegetable production (Webber et al, 2017). The long frost-free growing season in southern Louisiana, 230-290 days a year, that favors sugarcane production, also provides an ideal environment for vegetable production.…”

“…Organic mulches are used in vegetable production to enhance soil temperatures, retain soil moisture, prevent soil erosion, and decrease pest infestations (Webber et al, 2017). Due to the abundant annual bagasse surplus (3.5 million mt/yr) at Louisiana sugarcane sugar mills and the present policy of burning sugarcane field residue (70 mt/ha), there is a growing interest in alternative uses of these sugarcane plant materials, including as natural organic mulches for vegetable production (Webber et al, 2017).…”

“…Rodrigues et al (2001) documented that the breakdown of sugarcane bagasse lignocellulosic material produced toxic compounds that inhibit cellular growth. Also, leaching or the microbial breakdown of the bagasse may have an allelopathic (toxic) impact on squash plants (Facelli & Pickett, 1991;Rice, 1984;Rodrigues et al, 2001;Webber et al, 2017).…”

Sugarcane Crop Residue and Bagasse Allelopathic Impact on Oat (Avena sative L.), Tall Morningglory (Ipomoea purpurea L. Roth), and Redroot Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) Germination

“…Allelopathy is the term used to describe this biochemical interaction between plants, whether inhibiting or stimulating plant growth and development (Molisch, 1937;Rice, 1984). There is a growing interest by the general public for naturally produced crops and, therefore, a positive incentive to explore the use of natural plant chemicals to either promote crop growth and production, or inhibit weed growth and development (Bowmick & Doll, 1982;Rice, 1984;Russo et al, 1997aRusso et al, , 1997bWebber et al, 2015aWebber et al, , 2015bWebber et al, , 2017aWebber et al, , 2017bWebber et al, , 2017c. Information gleaned from allelopathic compounds has been used to produce natural herbicides and develop synthesized herbicides which are closely related the allelopathic compounds (Duke & Dayan, 2013;Cheema & Khaliq, 2000;Gerwick & Sparks, 2014).…”

Sugarcane Biochar as an Amendment for Greenhouse Growing Media for the Production of Cucurbit Seedlings

“…R. F. Drummond & I. W. Drummond, 1996;Martin et al, 2007;Pandey et al, 2000;Sales & Lima, 2010;). Sugarcane bagasse has been used for paper and fiber board production (Amin, 2011;Xin et al, 2002), cattle feed (Nigam, 1990;Pandey et al, 2000), potting media (Jhurree-Dussoruth et al, 2011;Trochoulias et al, 1990), a mulch for crop production (Webber et al, 2017a), a source for value added products (i.e. pigments, enzymes, amino acids, and drugs) (Pandey et al, 2000), and energy production (thermal conversion and ethanol) (Badger, 2002;Kilicaslan et al, 1999;Martin et al, 2007;Peng et al, 2009;Sun & Cheng, 2002;).…”