Effect of Age of Seed Cane on Yield and Yield Components of Sugarcane at Tendaho Sugar Factory

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Tendaho Sugarcane plantation from January, 2012-December, 2013 to determine the effect of five seed cane ages (6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 months) on yield and quality of three sugarcane varieties (B52298, NCo334 and Mex 54/245). The experiment was carried out on fluvisol in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a factorial combination with three replications. The analysis of the data indicated that sprouting, number of tillers, number of millable canes, cane yield  and estimated recoverable sugar were affected significantly (p<0.01) by the main effects of variety and seed cane age. However, sucrose (%) was affected significantly (p<0.01) only by the main effect of variety. In all the parameters considered none of them were affected by the interaction of variety and seed cane age. From the seed cane ages considered nine and ten months of ages had resulted in a significantly (p<0.01) lower cane and sugar yields than ages of six, seven and eight months, which were statistically at par. Therefore, it is concluded that seed cane age of 6-8 months is the right age at which seed should be harvested for planting at Tendaho.