ABSTRACT
Four experiments comprising three field trials were conducted at the upland sugarcane experimental field of the National Cereals Research Institute Farm, Badeggi (90 451 N; 60 071 E) in the Southern Guinea savanna ecological zone of Nigeria from 2010 to 2012 wet and dry seasons. The fourth experiment was conducted at the screen house of the Research Institute. Two varieties of sugarcane used for the experiments were chewing sugarcane (Bida Local) and industrial sugarcane i.e. National Cereals Sugar 008 (NCS 008). The first experiment was to determine the effect of different mulching materials on the growth and yield of sugarcane was a 2 x 3 x 2 factorial in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The second experiment that evaluated various parts of sugarcane cutting that could be planted by the farmers was a 3 x 3 x 2 factorial laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The third experiment which assessed the effect of harvesting time and three polyethylene colour as mulch on postharvest quality of sugarcane was a 4 x 2 factorial laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The fourth experiment determined the growth performance of sugarcane under different watering regime and K- fertilizer rates was a complete randomized design (CRD) with four replications laid out in the screen house. Three setts of sugarcane were planted per row and ratoon for each experiment was assessed for the next cropping season for all the experiments. The following parameters were measured: establishment count, stalk length and girth, number of stalks, tillers produced, nodes and inter-nodes, % brix, stalk yield. Establishment count significantly (p<0.05) differed in both the plant and the ratoon crops in 2010 and 2011. In the ratoon crop, mulching with groundnut shell produced higher establishment count (60%) compared to 52% when rice husk was used. Also, increasing organic matter rate increased the establishment count in the ratoon crops. In all the sampling periods, the stalk length of NCS 008 variety was significantly (p< 0.05) higher compared to that of Bida local in both cropping systems. Mulching at 40 t ha-1 gave the best yield for both the plant and ratoon crops when compared to 0 and 20 t ha-1. Plots mulched with 40 t ha-1 of groundnut shell gave the highest yield. The highest stalk yields of 42.25 and 50.31 t ha-1 were obtained from plant and ratoon crops in 2010 and 2011 respectively for NCS 008; 38.12 and 45.19 t ha-1 in 2010 and 2011 respectively, for Bida local. . Furthermore, the optimum stalk yields obtained from 40 t ha-1 in 2010 and 2011 plant and ratoon crops were higher than the maximum obtained for 0 and 20 t ha-1. The brix content from NCS 008 was significantly (p<0.05) higher than Bida local. The top parts of NCS 008 and Bida local significantly (p<0.05) performed higher than either the middle or the bottom part. NCS 008 grew significantly (p<0.05) taller than Bida local for plant and ratoon crops. The application of 90 kg K ha-1 gave the highest yield of ratoon when compared with the application of either 0 or 60 kg K ha-1. The least yield was obtained from 0 kg K ha-1 for both crops. Coloured polyethylene significantly (p<0.05) increased the vegetative growth of sugarcane when compared with control. Plot harvested at 12 MAP performed better than those harvested at 10 MAP. The yield from black polyethylene mulch proved superior to red and green colour at 12 MAP. Better sugarcane yield (45.40 t ha-1) was obtained by polyethylene mulching compared to no mulch (10.73 t ha-1). Incidence of smut, dead heart, termite attack was not evident with the use of polyethylene mulched plant and ratoon crops in 2010 and 2011. The application of 90 kg K ha-1 decreased the establishment count of Bida local. Six days watering interval and potassium application at 90 kg K ha-1 significantly (p<0.05) increased the stalk length, stem girth, leaf area and dry matter component of Bida local in 2010 and 2011. The application of 60 and 90 kg K ha-1 produced more tillers than 0 kg K ha-1 in 2010 and 2011. 90 kg K ha-1 produced more nodes than 60 and 0 kg K ha-1. Watering interval increased the length of the inter-nodes. The application of 90 kg K ha-1 had the highest K- content. The yield and % brix were highly significant (p<0.05) in ratoon crops than in plant crops in all the experiments. NCS 008 produced more yield than Bida local. Hence, NCS 008 is recommended for estate and sugarcane out growers. Ratooning with the use of organic waste should be employed so that the yield of sugarcane can be increased in successive cropping. The use of agricultural waste such as groundnut shell will considerably reduce the cost of inorganic fertilizer as well as reducing or eliminating the environmental hazards caused by such waste. The use of organic materials at 40 t ha-1 is recommended as mulching material. The top and middle parts should be used by farmers to propagate sugarcane. Incidence of smut, dead heart, termite attack was not seen with the use of polyethylene mulch in plant and ratoon crops of 2010 and 2011. Therefore, the use of colour polyethylene should be encouraged. Watering interval of 6 days and application of 90 kg K ha-1 is recommended to obtain maximum growth and yield of sugarcane
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), had its origin from an island in the South Pacific and most likely North Guinea and India, and was brought to Nigeria along the Western and Eastern coasts in the fifteenth century by European sailors (Aikulola, 1978). The major world commercial production centres of this crop include Australia, Brazil, China, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, USA and Sudan (Busari, 2004; Gupta et al., 2004).
Sugarcane growing countries lies between the latitude 76.70 North and 31.00 South of the equator extending from tropical to subtropical zones. Worldwide, sugarcane occupies an area of 20.42 million hectares with a total production of 1333 million metric tons (Ahmed, 2003). Its productivity per area differ widely from country to country with Brazil having the highest area of 5.343 million hectares and Australia with the highest productivity of 85.1 tons/ha (Ahmed, 2003). In Nigeria, chewing sugarcane is grown on about 30,000 ha. This represents less than 0.6% of the areas of inland valley swamps (IVS) available for production. The combined production of both industrial and chewing sugarcane rose from 607,000 tons in 1970 to 920,000 tons in 1992, before production started declining in 1993 (Busari, 2004). The large scale cultivation of industrial cane in Nigeria is limited to 4 major areas including Bacita (6000 ha), Numma (5000 ha), Sunti (800 ha) and Lafiagi (300 ha) (Busari, 2004). Chewing sugarcane is grown widely by local farmers across Nigeria on the alluvial soils of Ogun, Ondo, Cross River, Oyo States and in other lowland areas especially in Niger, Katsina, Jigawa, Kwara, Sokoto and Adamawa States (Busari et al., 2000; Ojehomon et al., 1996). The exact total land under cultivation is not known but estimated at 25–35,000 ha of which industrial cane covers about 12,000 ha (Busari, 2004). The production of industrial cane in estates is witnessing a decline, while local farmers in more states especially in Northern Nigeria are into chewing cane production.
Sugarcane, a member of the Poaceae family, is a perennial crop with a high self-tolerance of drought, grown throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world (Rouchecouste, 1967). It is a C4 plant with a high rate of photosynthesis (around 150-200 % above the average for other plants). The average number of tillers is between 4-12 stems, depending on the variety and site conditions, which can grow up to 2-3 metres in height. The sugar content (saccharose) fluctuates between 11 % and 16 % (Busari, 2004). There are two major types of sugarcane grown in Nigeria, the soft chewing and the hard commercial or industrial cane. The two have distinct characteristics. The chewing type is usually more robust, having softer stem with higher water and less sucrose content. While the industrial or commercial type has relatively thin and hard stem, thick ring (nodes) and usually with higher percent brix and less water content (Busari et al., 1995).
The cultivation of the crop is restricted to between 350 North and South of the equator and it is propagated by stem cutting into sett and each sett contains 2–3 buds (Facounnier, 1993). The basic requirement for good germination, growth and ripening are warm temperature between 250C and 300C with an optimum daily temperature of 280C. The plant requires a well -drained, loamy or loam – clay soil with adequate water supply of about 1600 mm of annual rainfall and can be grown under irrigation with a dry season period of about 3–5 months (Halliday, 1956). It requires a pH of 6.0 – 7.0 (Lakshmikathan, 1983) Sugarcane is one of the most significant commercial and cash crops grown by farmers in countries of the tropics (Alvaris, 2008). Most recently, considerable amount of research has been directed at increasing biomass production of sugarcane. Sugarcane is used for sugar production, molasses for livestock feeds, alcohol production, bagasses used as fuel for cooking and trash used for mulching and as organic fertilizer (Akobundu, 1987). In Brazil, sugarcane is readily available forage for dairy cattle. Sugarcane is used as strategic forage particularly in the dry season to prevent overgrazing of the pasture (Aroeira et al., 1993).
Chewing sugarcane can locally be processed into mazarkwaila and alewa for drinking akamu and gari (Busari et al., 1995). Presently, industrial cane is used as a biofuel. In Nigeria, the production of this crop is presently in the hands of local farmers and sugar-estates with average yields of between 20 and 60 tons per hectare, which is low compared to over 100 tons/ha obtained in the United States and Cuba (Fadayomi, 1996). According to Rao and Sharma (1981), poor yield of sugarcane is mostly due to varietal effect, poor weed control and crop nutrition.
The application of nutrients either as chemical fertilizers or organic manure reduced Striga infestation and improved crop yield (Oworu, 1988). Thus, the usual practice is to coral livestock on the field after harvest (Randall and Bandel, 1987). In sandy soils, especially in upland ecologies, loss of mineral nutrients, water and herbicides through leaching is very high thereby making the soil unproductive (Busari et al., 2000). Poor growth performance of chewing sugarcane was observed by Gana and Busari (2001) when inorganic fertilizer at the recommended rate of 120 N – 60 P2O5 – 90 K2O kg/ha was applied to chewing sugarcane at Badeggi. Rao and Sharma (1981) observed poor canopy formation of sugarcane in a low
nutrient soil which resulted in poor weed control. In developing countries, continuous cropping on an area over a long period result in the depletion of soil nutrients to the detriment of the agricultural crops. The use of fertilizers therefore becomes imminent. Inorganic fertilizers were therefore employed to supply lost nutrients as nutrient uptake varies with crops. Inorganic fertilizers are costly and mostly not available. High cost and scarcity of inorganic fertilizers in developing countries led to renewed interest in the use of unorthodox organic materials as nutrient source for the cultivation of nutrients demanding crops (Ahmed et al., 2007). Nutrient budget for sub Saharan Africa shows a net annual depletion of N, P and K as a result of long term cropping, with little or no external nutrient inputs (Agboola, 1995). The application of organic materials is needed not only to replenish lost nutrients but also to improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil ecologies, which will enhance performance of the soil and sufficient utilization of the applied inputs. According to Robinson and Falusi (1974), manures increase organic matter content, water holding capacity and plant nutrients in the soil. It also increases the efficacy of mineral fertilizers by improving physical properties of the soil. Soils incorporated with farm yard manure (FYM) contain enough suitable phosphoric acid, potash and lime (Ahn, 1979). Farmers in the Sudan Savanna zone use a lot of organic fertilizer for their crop production because of high cost of inorganic fertilizer (Mainasara, 1987). Even prior to the introduction of mineral fertilizers in Nigeria some 80 years ago, manure, compost and FYM were particularly the early source of nutrients to crop (Rao and Sharma, 1981).
It is therefore imperative that sound soil and crop management practices that are environmentally friendly are to be adopted to improve soil fertility for effective weed control and for the purpose of sustaining sugarcane production. Sugarcane is mostly propagated in Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria through planting of the top of harvested cane. This restricts the farm sizes and had reduced the ability to increase production levels. Most often where the crop is planted, it is scorched in the field due to intensive heat. The outcome of this work will provide sugarcane farmers information on the best part of sugarcane to be used as planting material thereby increasing sugarcane production.
The objectives of this study were to: –
i. Determine the effect of different mulching materials and polythene colour on the growth and yield of sugarcane.
ii. Assess the effect of harvesting time on quality of sugarcane.
iii. Determine the growth performance of sugarcane under different watering intervals.
iv. Evaluate various parts of sugarcane cutting that could be recommended for better sugarcane production.
This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research
EVALUATION OF THE PRODUCTIVITY OF TWO SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM L.) VARIETIES AS INFLUENCED BY MULCHING, K-FERTILIZATION AND IRRIGATION INTERVAL
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