EFFECT OF NITROGEN ON SUGARCANE PLANT GROWTH AND FLOWERING UNDER AN ARTIFICIAL PHOTOPERIOD TREATMENT

Authors: LABORDE, CHRIS - LSU AG CTR, ST. GABRIEL; GRAVOIS, KENNETH - LSU AG CTR, ST. GABRIEL; KIMBENG, COLLINS - LSU AG CTR, BATON ROUGE; KENNEDY, CHUCK - LSU AG CTR, BATON ROUGE; BISCHOFF, KEITH - LSU AG CTR, ST. GABRIEL; Tew, Thomas

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2004
Publication Date: 7/20/2004
Citation: Laborde, C., Gravois, K., Kimbeng, C., Kennedy, C., Bischoff, K., Tew, T.L. 2004. Effect of Nitrogen on Sugarcane Plant Growth and Flowering Under an Artificial Photoperiod Treatment. Journal of the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 24:114. Available: http://www.assct.org/journal/journal.htm

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sugarcane in Louisiana is grown at latitudes sufficiently far north that flowering is severely inhibited. Therefore, the LSU AgCenter Sugarcane Breeding Program relies completely on a controlled photoperiod facility to induce flowering. Several factors including genotype, plant age, photoperiod treatment, temperature, moisture, and nutrient status affect flowering in sugarcane. Little information is available regarding the effect of plant nutrient management on flowering under controlled photoperiod treatment. This research was initiated to study the effect of nitrogen on sugarcane plant growth and flowering under an artificial photoperiod treatment. The treatments consisted of three sugarcane varieties, two pot sizes, and two levels of nitrogen applied before the artificial photoperiod treatment followed by six levels of nitrogen applied during the artificial photoperiod treatment. The data collected included stalk height, stalk diameter, days to flowering, days to flag leaf formation, duration of flag leaf, percent flower, inflorescence length, inflorescence weight, and percent viable seed. This paper discusses the results of this study.