Row Spacing, Cultivar and Crop Effects on Sugarcane Leaf Area Index and Yields.

Row spacing in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) varies with soil type, environment, topography and planting and harvesting practices in different parts of the World. In Florida, sugarcane is commonly planted at 1.5m row spacing but there are issues with vigorous weed growth, soil compaction, mechanical damage to the plants etc. To determine the effect of row spacing on sugarcane growth and yield, a field trial was conducted to evaluate four different row spacings (1.2m, 1.5m, 1.8m and a double row with 0.6x0.9m spacing) in three top commercial sugarcane cultivars (CP 96-1252, CP 00-1101 and CP 01-1372) for two crop seasons (plant cane and first ratoon). Data were collected on leaf area index (LAI) and yield parameters. Plant cane results showed that LAI was greater in double row and 1.2m than 1.5m and 1.8m spacings. Double row and 1.2m spacings produced greater number of millable stalks per acre, biomass and sugar yields than 1.5m and 1.8m spacings. Row spacing had not much effect on sucrose concentration in any of the tested cultivars. Overall, depending on the cultivar, double row and 1.2m spacing produced 17-46% and 23-42% greater sugar yield than current 1.5m spacing, respectively. Data collection in first ratoon crop is ongoing.