Enhancement of Sugarcane Maturity using Glyphosate and Bispyribac Sodium as Chemical Ripeners in Wet Climate

Abstract

Sugarcane is often harvested at non-optimal maturity. Chemical ripeners (CRs) could be a solution, although they risk killing subsequent ratoon plants (SRPs). This research aimed to unravel glyphosate (Gly) and bispyribac sodium (BS) impacts as CRs on sugarcane maturity and SRPs’ growth. The research was conducted in Kebon Agung Sugar Mill, Malang, East Java, Indonesia, from May to July 2022, using the ten-month-old Bululawang variety and was sprayed with a drone. A randomized block design was used with four treatments, i.e., Gly 1,000 mL ha-1, BS 200 mL ha-1, BS 100 mL ha-1, and control. Results showed that BS 200 mL ha-1 led to a greater rise in Cane Content Sugar (CCS) and Sugar Cristal Yield (SCY) than BS 100 mL ha-1 and the control but was still lower than Gly 1 l ha-1. The best harvest time for optimal maturity was six to eight weeks after applying BS 200 mL ha-1. The highest gap was in Gly, i.e., 45% than control and can potentially lower SCY more than other CRs, while the gaps in the 100 and 200 mL ha-1 BS were 7.82% and 11.97%, respectively. The results suggest that low doses of Gly and BS can boost maturity and also avert SRPs’ death.