Effects of Different Planting Schemes on Yield, Quality Parameters, Lignocellulosic Composition and Nutrient Uptake of Different Cane Varieties.

The type of planting materials and seeding rate can influence early cane stand population, number of millable stalk, and overall cane yield. Whole stalk planting is becoming less popular due to its high labor and equipment cost requirements. The recent adoption of billet harvesting in Louisiana sugarcane production systems prompted the use of billets as planting material. A field experiment was initiated in 2012 at LSU AgCenter Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel, Louisiana to evaluate the influence of different planting schemes on cane biomass yield, quality, lignocellulosic composition, and nutrient uptake. Treatments were arranged in split plot in randomized complete block design with four replications. Two planting schemes were designated as the main plot (whole stalk and billet) and six varieties as sub-plot (Ho 02-113, US 72-114, Ho 06-9001, Ho 06-9002, and two sugarcane varieties L 01-299 and L 03-371). Fifteen stalks were collected at harvest and were separated (into leaves and stalks) and analyzed for lignocellulosic composition (ANKOM²⁰⁰⁰), sugar quality, and nutrient uptake. Yield, nutrient uptake, Brix, theoretical recoverable sugar (TRS), sucrose, fiber, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin was not affected by planting scheme. There were varietal differences observed in yield with variety L 01-299 showing the highest yield at 35 and 40 Mt ha^-1 for whole stalk and billet planting, respectively. It was very evident that the sugarcane varieties L 01-299 and L 03-371 showed significantly higher nutrient uptake, Brix, TRS, sucrose and fiber content than energy cane varieties (P<0.05). However, lignocellulosic composition of energy cane varieties had higher hemicellulose (16%), cellulose (30%) and lignin (20%) content than L 01-299 and L 03-371. The initial results of this study showed that yield, sugar quality parameters, and lignocellulosic composition of cane were not compromised when planted as billets.