Comparison of Stalk Volume by Water Displacement Method and Calculation Method for Stalk Weight Determination and Its Relevance to Single Cane Weight in Sugarcane Clones

Abstract

The present study was conducted to identify the association of non-destructive rapid estimation of stalk volume by calculation method with water displacement method and to predict the single cane weight by stalk volume. The stalk volume by water displacement method (SVWM) and stalk volume by calculation method (SVCM) were compared for the efficacy of stalk weight determination in sugarcane clones. Results from both methods were similar and a highly significant relationship was found between the two methods (r2 = 0.9092, P < 0.0001). Both protocols provide consistent stalk volume measurements; however, the stalk volume calculation method is preferred for its quick evaluation of a large number of stalks in a rapid way besides its non-destructive nature. The calculation method saved more than 70 seconds for each sample. The stalk weight has shown a significant correlation of r=0.71***, 0.83***, 0.94***, 0.99*** with SH, CD, SVCM and SVWM respectively, while the stalk density (SD) was observed with a negative correlation (r=-0.27ns) with stalk weight. The stalk volume-based predicted stalk weight estimation was observed with high degree of correlation (>0.88***) with the original single cane weight by both the studied methods, thus, measurements of stalk volume based on calculation method which provide simple, rapid, non-destructive field phenotyping of single cane weight in sugarcane crop may be recommended for the sugarcane research.