A study of the grand growth period of sugarcane varieties

Abstract

The author made a study of the grand growth period of sugarcane varieties. He presents phases of the vegetative cycle and its relationship to internal and external factors. He justified the trial in face of the adility of varieties to respond differently to the external factors which are under human control and which, when determined, will serve to increase yields. Varieties CB 45-3, CB 47-15, CP 51-22, IANE 51-17, and IANE 55-33 with economic prospect were compared to the standards CO 331, CP 27-139, and POJ 2878. The trial was conducted on a sandy loam soil, representative of the area, located in the west sector of the Curado Experiment Station, Pernambuco, Brazil. The elongation of 40 culms of each variety was measured fortnightly (noting as well the total length). A record of daily rainfall was kept. After 13 months the collecting of samples for maturity curve data of varieties was initiated. Six tables and two figures summarize the work. Table 1 shows the soil characteristics where the trial was conducted. Table 2 shows the growth grand period of varieties in terms of average culmlength at various ages. Table 4 gives rainfall data during the grand period of growth, Table 5 and Fig. 2 show maturation curve of the varieties. Under conditions of prevailing rainfall each variety presents its own maturation curve. The fact is, that it indicates a need adjust to a proper planting time, fertilization and various meteorological factors, to the culture of varieties to obtain maximum production. All varieties attained their greatest height from 6.5 to 11 months. In this cited period, the sum of forthnightly rains exceeded 56 mm. The varieties CB 45-3, CB 47-15, POJ 2878, CP 51-22 and CP 27-139 were the earlier maturing and attained their maximum height in 6.5 months. Under the conditions of this trial, the richest varieties were POJ 2878, CB 45-3, CB 47-15 and CP 51-22. The simultaneous study of the age at reached maximum elongation, the age in months and the sucrose content at maturity (Table 6) permits confirmation of the experimental results of Raheja in India, in which the sucrose productions of the physiologically early maturing varieties is directly related to relatively rapid inicial growth.