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: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/16/2021
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sugarcane growers are always trying to minimize production costs and planting accounts for a significant portion of these expenses. The application of trinexapac-ethyl in sugarcane can improve seed cane quality by reducing internode length and increasing viable eyes per unit length. This could reduce seed-cane use and assist in reducing crop planting costs. This study evaluated the influence of trinexapac-ethyl treated seed cane on the yield of three different commercial varieties (L 99-233, HoCP 96-540 and HoCP 04-838) 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. Trinexapac-ethyl was applied 112 days prior to harvest of seed cane for planting at a rate of 13.5 t ha-1 for both billets and whole-stalks. Trinexapac-ethyl applied to seed cane prior to harvest and planting did not affect cane, theoretical recoverable sucrose (TRS) or sucrose yield in both plant cane and first ratoon crops. Sugarcane variety significantly influenced the fiber content in both plant cane and first ratoon crops. The results from this study, which included plant-cane and ratoon results from two locations in Louisiana did not show any benefit in cane yield, TRS, or sugar yield from treating seed with growth regulator trinexapac-ethyl prior to harvesting seed.