Evaluation of nutrient-based ripener additives tank-mixed with glyphosate on sugarcane yield components in Louisiana

Authors: Spaunhorst, Douglas; ORGERON, ALBERT - LSU Agcenter; GRAVOIS, KENNETH - LSU Agcenter

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/26/2021
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Glyphosate has been the primary chemical ripener used by Louisiana sugarcane growers since the 1980s to increase sucrose levels in ratoon sugarcane. The objective of this research was to evaluate sugarcane yield component response of three commercial sugarcane cultivars to several potential ripener additives, with nutrient profiles, that were tank-mixed with glyphosate at 210 g ae ha-1 and compared with current sugarcane ripener programs glyphosate at 210 g ae ha-1 and glyphosate at 105 g ae ha-1 + trinexapac-ethyl at 200 g ai ha-1. Overall, tank-mixing nutrient-based ripener additives with glyphosate had no effect on yield components for ‘HoCP 96-540’ or ‘HoCP 04-838’ when compared with glyphosate or glyphosate + trinexapac-ethyl ripener. However, glyphosate + B sure (0.5-0-0.5) reduced stalk sucrose levels in ‘L 01-299’ by 7% when compared with glyphosate alone. The reduction in stalk sucrose levels for glyphosate + B sure (0.5-0-0.5) when applied to L 01-299 did not equate to less sucrose yield (kg ha-1) when compared with glyphosate alone. The industry standard glyphosate treatment and glyphosate + Anova (5-0-0) applied to L 01-299 sugarcane had 22% more sucrose yield when compared with the nontreated, but were similar to glyphosate + trinexapac-ethyl and other nutrient-based ripener additives tank-mixed with glyphosate. Results from these studies did not show yield component increases over current recommended ripener programs for many sugarcane cultivars that respond to glyphosate ripener.

Technical Abstract: Stalk sucrose concentrations (kg Mg-1) in sugarcane in Louisiana can be increased by applying chemical ripeners and harvesting 28 to 49 days later. Glyphosate has been the primary chemical ripener used by Louisiana sugarcane growers since the 1980s. The objective of this research was to evaluate sugarcane yield component response of three commercial sugarcane cultivars to several potential ripener additives, with nutrient profiles, that were tank-mixed with glyphosate at 210 g ae ha-1 and compared with current sugarcane ripener programs glyphosate at 210 g ae ha-1 and glyphosate at 105 g ae ha-1 + trinexapac-ethyl at 200 g ai ha-1. Overall, tank-mixing nutrient-based ripener additives with glyphosate did not increase or decrease yield components for ‘HoCP 96-540’ or ‘HoCP 04-838’ when compared with glyphosate or glyphosate + trinexapac-ethyl ripener. However, glyphosate + B sure (0.5-0-0.5) reduced stalk sucrose concentration in ‘L 01-299’ by 7% when compared with glyphosate alone. The reduction in stalk sucrose concentration for glyphosate + B sure (0.5-0-0.5) when applied to L 01-299 did not equate to less sucrose yield (kg ha-1) when compared with glyphosate alone. Glyphosate and glyphosate + Anova (5-0-0) treatments applied to L 01-299 sugarcane had 22% more sucrose yield when compared with the nontreated, but were similar to glyphosate + trinexapac-ethyl and other nutrient-based ripener additives tank-mixed with glyphosate. Results from these studies did not show yield component increases over current recommended ripener programs for several sugarcane cultivars characterized as highly responsive to glyphosate ripener.