Effect of variety and Trinexapac-ethyl application on the yield of billet and whole-stalk planted sugarcane in Louisiana

Authors: DASILVA, DEISE - Non ARS Employee; ORGERON, ALBERT - LSU Agcenter; Johnson, Richard

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/14/2020
Publication Date: 12/14/2020
Citation: Dasilva, D.P., Orgeron, A.J., Johnson, R.M. 2020. Effect of variety and Trinexapac-ethyl application on the yield of billet and whole-stalk planted sugarcane in Louisiana. Journal of the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 40:46-55.

Interpretive Summary: A study was conducted to determine if sugarcane seed-cane treated with the plant growth regulator Moddus would enhance the yields of sugarcane planted as billets or whole-stalks at two locations in Louisiana. The billets used in the study were cut with a combine harvester and were 46–56 cm in length. The experiment included three commercial varieties of sugarcane: L 99-233, HoCP 96-540 and HoCP 04-838. Moddus was applied at a rate of 91 g/ha at 112 and 73 days prior to the harvest of the seedcane used for planting the sugarcane. One planting rate was used (13.5 t/ha) for both billets and whole-stalks. The application of Moddus applied to seed-cane prior to harvest and planting did not affect cane or sugar yields. The sugarcane variety did significantly influence the fiber content in both the plant cane and first ratoon crops. The results from this trial do not show a benefit in cane or sugar yields to treating seed-cane with the growth regulator Moddus prior to harvesting seed-cane. However, there are other benefits of treating seed-cane with Moddus including a reduction of sugarcane lodging that may continue to justify its continued use.

Technical Abstract: This study evaluated the influence of trinexapac-ethyl (Trade name: Moddus®) treated seed-cane on the yield of three different commercial varieties planted as billets or whole-stalks at two locations in Louisiana. The billets used in the study were cut with a combine harvester and were 46–56 cm in length. The experiment included three commercial varieties of sugarcane: L 99-233, HoCP 96-540 and HoCP 04-838. Trinexapac-ethyl (91 g ha-1) was applied 112 and 73 days prior to harvest of seedcane for planting. One planting rate was used (13.5 t ha-1) for both billets and whole-stalks. The application of the growth regulator Trinexapac-ethyl applied to seed-cane prior to harvest and planting did not affect cane, theoretical recoverable sucrose (TRS) or sucrose yield. Sugarcane variety significantly influenced the fiber content in both plant cane and first ratoon. The results from this trial do not show a benefit in cane yield, TRS, or sugar yield to treating seed with growth regulator trinexapac-ethyl prior to harvesting seed. However, one must consider the benefits on the harvestablity of trinexapac-ethyl treated sugarcane, where other research has demonstrated propensity for reduced sugarcane lodging.