Height of cut and harvest period effects on tillering and yield of sugarcane

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the relationship of sugarcane cut height cane and harvest period, and their effects on tillering and ratoon yield. The experimental design was the randomized blocks one,
in a 2x3x3 factorial arrangement, with two genotypes (IAC86-2480 and RB72454), three heights of cut (0, 10 and 20 cm, above soil level) and three harvest periods (May, July and September 2006), with four replicates, in Jaú, São Paulo State, Brazil. Tillering was signifi cantly higher in 'IAC86-2480', in comparison to 'RB72454', in all evaluations. At the end of the growth cycle, cut heights at 10 and 20 cm of fi elds harvested in May resulted in higher tillering. Sugarcane genotypes responded to heights of cut and to harvest periods. The highest cane
yield was observed in 'RB72454' harvested in September. The energy stored in the base of stalks improved sugarcane sprouting under unfavorable weather conditions. Season periods affected stalk and sugar yield.