Evaluating Sugarcane Varieties in Southeast Texas. Beaumont, TX. 2003

Transcription

1 Evaluating Sugarcane Varieties in Southeast Texas. Beaumont, TX Project Investigators: Technicians: Student Assistants: Administrative Support: Mo Way in cooperation with Bill White and Ed Dufrene (USDA/ARS at Houma, LA) M.S. Nunez, R.G. Wallace and R.B. Eason M. Weiss, B. Wolff, M. Aguillard and A. Easley C.D. Tribble Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center 1509 Aggie Drive Beaumont, TX [ phone] [ fax] or Introduction Sugarcane continues to be grown on a relatively small scale in Southeast Texas. Sugarcane acreage in this region could increase in the future if more information becomes available as to the economic feasibility and profitability of the crop. Specifically, research is needed to determine yield potential and adaptability of available varieties to the Texas Upper Gulf Coast environment. The objective of the research in 2003 was to continue to evaluate sugarcane varieties for yield potential at the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Beaumont in cooperation with the USDA/ARS at Houma, LA. Materials and Methods Two previously planted sugarcane experiments were maintained through the winter. Both experiments consisted of eight varieties replicated three times in a randomized complete block. Plot size was 3 rows, 5 ft. row width, 16 ft. long. Individual 3-row plots were separated by 4 ft. alleys (see plot map: Sugarcane Variety Trials at Beaumont). The first experiment was a fourth-stubble variety test planted 30 Sep The second experiment was a third-stubble variety test planted 26 Aug On 29 Apr, after stubble regrowth was well established in the spring of 2003, a tank mix of 2,4 2.0 qt/acre and 4.0 qt/acre was post-directed for early season weed control on both experiments with a CO 2 -pressurized hand-held spray boom ( nozzles, 50 mesh screens, 20 gpa application rate). Excellent weed control was achieved with this application. On 20 Jun, 217 lbs of urea was aerially-applied to the entire plot area as a topdress (100 lb N/acre). Mid-season weed problems included ground cherry, Texas weed, small leaf flower, morningglory, yellow nutsedge and broadleaf signalgrass. On 14 Jun, a tank mix of 2,4 2.0 qt/acre and 4.0 qt/acre was again post-directed down the furrows of both experiments with a hand-held spray boom. This application achieved good weed control for the remainder of the growing season. Populations of sugarcane borer did not reach significant levels. Therefore, insecticide was not applied to either experiment. Plots were not irrigated. On 29 Aug, sugarcane stalks in the middle row (16 ft. long) of each plot in both experiments were counted. These stalk density data were later used to calculate yield on a per acre basis. On 30 Oct,

2 stalks (subsamples) were randomly selected from the middle row of each plot, bundled and immediately weighed in the field. Bundles were then cut into small billets, placed in plastic bags and sprayed with a high concentration of Karate Z to ensure no transport of live Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini, to Louisiana. Researchers at the USDA/ARS in Houma, LA analyzed the plot subsamples for yield (tons/acre), sugar/ton, sugar/acre, stalk wt. (lb) and % fiber (see Tables 1-10). Results For the 1998 planting, L produced the highest yields (tons/acre) for plant cane, and 1 st and 4 th stubble crops (Table 1). L also produced the highest average yield over five cuttings (35.7 tons/acre). In general, yields of all varieties declined with time (plant cane to 4 th stubble crop). L produced the highest amount of sugar (lb/ton) for 2 nd stubble crop and produced the highest average amount of sugar/ton over five cuttings (257 lb/ton) (Table 2). However, L produced the most sugar/acre for plant cane, 1 st and 4 th stubble crop, and produced the most sugar/acre over five cuttings (45189 total lb sugar/acre) (Table 3). L had the lowest stalk weight over five cuttings (Table 4). For the 1999 planting, L produced the highest 2 nd and 3 rd stubble crop yields with an average of 35.3 tons/acre over four cuttings (Table 6). These results are similar to those from the 1998 planting. Out of eight test varieties, T ranked 8 th, 3 rd, 2 nd and 8 th in yield (tons/acre) for plant cane, 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd stubble crops, respectively (Table 6). T produced the 7 th lowest yields (tons/acre) of the eight test varieties over four cuttings. As in the 1998 planting, L produced the highest amount of sugar/ton over four cuttings (Table 7). Over four cuttings, sugar production/acre was highest for L (34263 lb) with L second highest at lb (Table 8). T produced the 7 th lowest amount of sugar over four cuttings. L had the lowest stalk weight over four cuttings (Table 9). Results from these two experiments over four and five cuttings indicate that L grown in Beaumont, TX produced tonnage and sugar yields comparable to those produced in Louisiana. 103

3 Table 1. Yield (tons/acre) from sugarcane variety test planted 30 Sep Beaumont, TX Variety Plant cane a 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 3 0 L Ho LHo L L LSD NS NS b 1st stubble harvested on 11 Dec 2000, 2nd stubble on 17 Dec 2001, 3rd stubble on 17 Dec 2002, Table 2. Yield [sugar (lb)/ton] from sugarcane variety test planted 30 Sep Beaumont, TX Variety Plant cane a 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 0 LHo L Ho L L LSD b 1st stubble harvested on 11 Dec 2000, 2nd stubble on 17 Dec 2001, 3rd stubble on 17 Dec 2002, 104

4 Table 3. Yield [sugar (lb)/acre] from sugarcane variety test planted 30 Sep Beaumont, TX Variety Plant cane a 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 3 0 L Ho LHo L L LSD NS NS b 1st stubble harvested on 11 Dec 2000, 2nd stubble on 17 Dec 2001, 3rd stubble on 17 Dec 2002, Table 4. Yield [weight (lb)/stalk] from sugarcane variety test planted 30 Sep Beaumont, TX Variety Plant cane a 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 0 Ho L L LHo L LSD b 1st stubble harvested on 11 Dec 2000, 2nd stubble on 17 Dec 2001, 3rd stubble on 17 Dec 2002, 105

5 Table 5. Yield (% fiber) from sugarcane variety test planted 30 Sep Beaumont, TX Variety Plant cane a 1st 2nd 3rd 4th L L LHo L Ho LSD b 1st stubble harvested on 11 Dec 2000, 2nd stubble on 17 Dec 2001, 3rd stubble on 17 Dec 2002, Table 6. Yield (tons/acre) from sugarcane variety test planted 26 Aug Beaumont, TX Stubble a 1st 2nd 3rd 3 0 Variety Plant cane b Ho L Ho LHo L T LSD NS a Plant cane harvested 11 Dec b 1st stubble harvested on 17 Dec 2001, 2nd on 17 Dec 2002, 3rd on 30 Oct

6 Table 7. Yield [sugar (lb)/ton] from sugarcane variety test planted 26 Aug Beaumont, TX Variety Plant cane a 1st 2nd 3rd LHo Ho T L L Ho LSD a Plant cane harvested 11 Dec b 1st stubble harvested on 17 Dec 2001, 2nd on 17 Dec 2002, 3rd on 30 Oct Table 8. Yield [sugar (lb)/acre] from sugarcane variety test planted 26 Aug Beaumont, TX Variety Plant cane a 1st 2nd 3rd Ho L LHo Ho L T LSD NS a Plant cane harvested 11 Dec b 1st stubble harvested on 17 Dec 2001, 2nd on 17 Dec 2002, 3rd on 30 Oct

7 Table 9. Yield [weight (lb)/stalk] from sugarcane variety test planted 26 Aug Beaumont, TX Variety Plant cane a 1st 2nd 3rd 0 L Ho T Ho LHo L LSD NS a Plant cane harvested 11 Dec b 1st stubble harvested on 17 Dec 2001, 2nd on 17 Dec 2002, 3rd on 30 Oct Table 10. Yield (% fiber) from sugarcane variety test planted 26 Aug Beaumont, TX Variety Plant cane a 1st 2nd 3rd 0 L Ho T Ho L LHo LSD a Plant cane harvested 11 Dec b 1st stubble harvested on 17 Dec 2001, 2nd on 17 Dec 2002, 3rd on 30 Oct

8 Sugarcane Variety Trials at Beaumont, Plot Map Plot size: 3 rows, 5 ft. row width, 16 ft. long ( acres), 4 ft. alley between plots 109 Planted 9/30/98 Planted 8/26/99 L L L L LHo Ho T Fallow L L Ho L LHo L Ho L LHo Ho Fallow Fallow Buffer rows LHo L L L rows 1 row 2 rows 3 rows 3 rows 3 rows 2 rows 2 rows 2 rows 3 rows 3 rows 3 rows 2 rows 2 rows 2 rows North - Road