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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Houma, Louisiana » Sugarcane Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #164224
Title: A SURVEY OF TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL VARIABILITY IN LOUISIANA SUGARCANE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Author
item Johnson, Richard
item Richard Jr, Edward

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/12/2004
Publication Date: 6/16/2004
Citation: Johnson, R.M., Richard Jr, E.P. 2004. A survey of temporal and spatial variability in Louisiana sugarcane production systems [abstract]. Journal of the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 24:113.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This study reports results from our evaluations of the spatial variability in sugarcane yield and quality in relation to variation in soil chemical properties. Sugarcane cv 'LCP 85-384' was harvested in two un-treated producers' fields for three consecutive years in Schriever and Patoutville, LA. In Schriever a plant-cane, first, and second stubble crop was harvested and in Patoutville a fourth, fifth, and sixth stubble crop was harvested, in 2001, 2002 and 2003, respectively. Each field was harvested in a grid cell pattern with cell dimensions of 10.6 x 15.2-m with a single row, chopper harvester, with weights determined using a weigh wagon equipped with a billet sampler. Soil samples (0-15 cm) were also collected after harvest from each grid cell. Yield, quality, and soils data were analyzed by both univariate statistics and geostatistical techniques. The majority of properties describing sugar yield and quality at both locations were found to possess non-normal distributions in 2001. This number decreased in 2002 and 2003. The coefficients of variation were relatively stable between location and year varying from 5 to 20%. In Schriever in 2001, 2002, and 2003, all sugar yield and quality parameters were spatially correlated with the exception of TRS and Fiber in 2003. The ranges of spatial correlation varied from 26 to 187 m. In Patoutville in 2001, 2002, and 2003, all sugar properties were spatially correlated with ranges of spatial correlation varying from 27 to 133 m. Correlation analysis was performed to study the relation between soil properties and sugar parameters. In Schriever, the soil Ca:Mg ratio and soil S were correlated to all sugar parameters and in Patoutville, soil OM, and soil pH were correlated to all sugar parameters. Finally, kriged maps of sugarcane yield, quality, and soil properties illustrated the relations between soil variability and sugar yield and quality. These maps have also been utilized in our variable rate lime studies.