Yield Accumulation in Irrigated Sugarcane: I. Effect of Crop Age and Cultivar

Abstract

Because the duration of growth for commercial sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) production can vary from 9 to 36 mo, determining the optimum age at crop harvest is important to profitability. To account for variable climate across seasons and locations, there is a need to understand the physiology of yield accumulation and quantitatively describe the effects of crop age on productivity. Few field studies have been conducted to determine the factors responsible for yield variation in different cultivars of sugarcane at different crop ages, and the physiology of yield accumulation has rarely been examined on a dry matter basis with all yield components, including tops, millable stalk, trash, and roots. This paper compares above‐ and belowground biomass accumulation with crop age in two current cultivars grown in field experiments under drip irrigation in Hawaii from 1991 to 1993, and reanalyzes earlier experiments conducted in Hawaii in the 1930s and 1940s to examine historical changes in the pattern of yield accumulation in sugarcane. The key findings from this analysis are that (i) differences in yield accumulation during the first 12 mo of growth were not necessarily reflected in final yields at harvest at 18 to 24 mo; (ii) yield accumulation was less efficient in the second year of growth for current cultivars, but not necessarily so for older cultivars; (iii) belowground biomass decreased from 17% of total biomass at 6 mo to 11% of total biomass from 12 to 24 mo; (iv) there was no indication that older cultivars were less productive than current cultivars; and (v) yields rarely increased beyond 18 mo of age.

Long-rotation sugarcane in Hawaii sustains high carbon accumulation and radiation use efficiency in 2nd year of growth

“…One possible explanation for suppression of Re is low precipitation. Normal precipitation at Windy and Lee is less than 350 mm/year (Giambelluca et al, 2013), which is $50% of normal precipitation at the Oahu study sites used by Evensen et al (1997) and Muchow et al (1997). Furthermore, Maui was experiencing significant drought during the observational period; observed precipitation at both adjacent weather stations was less than 160 mm for the entire 18-24 month period.…”

Increasing water use efficiency of irrigated sugarcane production in South Africa through better agronomic practices

“…Singels et al (2005a) stated that increases in radiation interception of between 10% and 15% could be expected in theory if cultivar and planting density is adjusted to optimally match the crop starting date. There is, however, evidence that early differences in radiation interception (Robertson et al, 1996) and growth (Everson et al, 1997) does not necessarily lead to higher final cane yield. Increasing biomass production by increasing radiation interception has had limited impact in many higher yielding environments due to stalk death late in the season .…”

Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks of Different Hawaiian Sugarcane Cultivars

“…There is an increasing interest in converting sugarcane to biofuel using advanced cellulosic approaches, particularly in the Pacific Basin [3,4]. The Hawaiian Islands have been identified as a potential location for growing biofuels due to the very high potential productivity of Hawaiian sugarcane and the availability of land following large scale closures of sugarcane plantations [5,6]. Several notable climatic factors are in favor for Hawaiian sugarcane productivity and efficiency, including high solar irradiance (>20 MJ·m −2 ·day −1 ), mild maximum daily temperatures (<30 °C), and low vapor pressure deficit (<1.5 kPa) [7,8].…”

“…In order to achieve high yields, Hawaiian sugarcane production systems have been improved with the use of numerous practices that are distinctive from other major sugarcane growing regions. One of the most distinctive practices is a ~24 month cropping system with a greater rate of biomass accumulation in the first 15 months of growth and sucrose accumulation thereafter [5]. Other important agricultural practices include: tilling (sub-soiling) the soil to 60 cm depth before the seed canes are planted, using local (Hawaiian), high yielding, disease-resistant cultivars, and using natural predators to control insects and pests.…”

“…Hawaiian sugarcane cultivars have been studied for increased yield [5,11], improved pest resistance [12,13], and salinity tolerance [14] in relation to sugar production. However, parameters relevant to biofuel production, such as total carbon and nitrogen accumulation, nitrogen fertilizer recovery, and soil organic and inorganic carbon sequestration [15] are less understood, particularly since the rise of drip irrigation in the 1980s [16].…”