Performance Evaluation of Three Sugar Cane Varieties under Different Levels of Nitrogen Fertilization and Two Seeding Rates

Abstract

Field trials including two plant cane crops and one 1 st ratoon were conducted in El-Mattana Agric. Res. Station, (latitude of 25.17° N and longitude of 32.33° E), Esna, Luxor Governorate, Egypt, during the two successive seasons of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 to find out the performance of three sugar cane varieties (G.T. 54-9, G. 2003-47 and G.2003-49), which were planted using two planting densities (1.5 drills "37800 buds/fed" and 2 drills "50400 buds/fed") and fertilized with three nitrogen levels (180, 210 and 240 kg N/fed "fed = 0.42 ha-1"). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) using split-plot arrangement with three replications was used. The varieties were allocated in the main plots, mean while planting densities and nitrogen levels were randomly distributed in the sub-plot. The important results could be summarized as follow:Variety G.T.54-9 over passed the two promising varieties in length, diameter and fresh weight/plant of stalks. The two promising varieties (G.2003-47 and G.2003-49) over passed the commercial variety (G.T.54-9) in brix, purity and sugar recovery percentages and number of millable in the three crops. Variety G.2003-47 gave the highest sugar yield in the two crops and ratoon.Planting density 37800 buds/fed attained a significant increase in stalk diameter compared with planting by 50400 buds/fed, meanwhile, the same planting density i.e. 37800 buds/fed produced the higher stalk fresh weight in the two plant cane crops and 1 st ratoon. Planting density 50400 buds/fed attained the highest taller stalks, brix, purity and sugar recovery percentages, number of millable cane/fed and cane and sugar yields/fed, meanwhile, the same density reduced glucose % in the different crops.Increasing nitrogen levels up to 240 kg N/fed led to significantly increased in stalk length, stalk diameter, stalk fresh weight/plant, number of millable cane/fed, cane yield/fed and sugar yield/fed for the three cane crops. Increased nitrogen levels from 180 to 210 and 240 kg N/fed caused significant increase sugar yield/fed in the three cane crops, this increment amounted by 15.67 and 23.24 % in the 1 st planted cane, 13.83 and 18.81% in the 1 st ratoon and 6.45 and 8.10 % in the 2 nd planted cane, respectively.The highest number of millable cane/fed was recorded when sugar cane planted with 50400 buds/fed and fertilized by 240 kg N/fed.Variety G.T.54-9 attained the highest stalk fresh weight values with the different nitrogen levels over the two promising varieties. The best interaction was between variety G.2003-47 and 210 kg N/fed to produce the highest purity % in the three crops. The interaction between the varieties and nitrogen levels attained a significant influence on sugar recovery % in the 1 st ratoon and the 2 nd planted cane.

Enhancement of production and quality of sugarcane using nitrogen and vinasses

“…These results may be attributed to the role of N element in building-up plant organs and enhancing plant growth. These results are in agreement with those reported by Osman et al (2010), Bekheet and Abd-El-Aziz (2016), Makhlouf et al (2016), andGadallah (2020).…”

“…(Tables, 3, 4 and 5, respectively), which was reflected on the cane yield. These results are in agreement with those reported by Osman et al (2010), Bekheet and El-Aziz (2016), Makhlouf et al (2016) and Gadallah (2020). 3, 4, and 5, respectively).…”

“…e variance between the two cane varieties in this trait may be due to their gene makeup. Similar observations were reported by Makhlouf et al (2016), Fahmy et al (2017) Gadallah and Abd El-Aziz (2019), Gadallah et al (2020), andAli et al (2022). Increasing N-level given to sugarcane to 210 and 240 kg N/fed.…”

“…The newly bred varieties showed variable responses to different agronomic practices. Makhlouf et al (2016), Fahmy et al (2017), El-Bakry (2018) Gadallah and Abd El-Aziz (2019), Gadallah et al ( 2020), Gadallah and Mehareb (2020) and Ali et al ( 2022) found that sugarcane variety G.T.54-9 showed the superiority in stalk height, stalk diameter, number of millable canes as well as cane and sugar yields/fed. while G.2003-47 was superior in juice quality characteristics.…”

“…(2016) showed that raising N level to 220 kg N/fed resulted in increases in stalk height, diameter, number of millable canes/fed., cane and sugar yields/fed. Makhlouf et al (2016) cleared that increasing N levels up to 240 kg N/fed led to significant increases in stalk length, diameter, number of millable canes/fed, cane and sugar yields/fed. Bekheet et al (2018).…”