Effects of intra-row spacing on yield and yield components of sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) varieties at Omo Kuraz, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Sugarcane stalk population is a key determinant of cane yield and knowing the right intra-row spacing is a critical factor in sugarcane production for a given environment. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at Omo Kuraz Sugar Estate during the 2018/ 2019 cropping season to determine the effect of intra-row spacings (5 cm overlapping, end-to-end, 5 cm spacing between setts and 10 cm spacing between setts) on growth, yield, yield components and quality parameters of sugarcane varieties (N14, Mex54/245 and C86/112). The treatments were arranged in a split-plot design with three replications. Varieties were represented as the main plot whereas setts spacing treatments were assigned to sub-plots. Analysis of variance revealed that the intra-row spacing effect didn’t show a significant difference in the number of tillers, plant population, millable cane, cane yield, sugar yield, and Brix percent whereas significant (P<0.05) differences were observed in stalk height, stalk girth, number of internodes and weight per stalk. Therefore, the 10 cm intra-row spacing of three budded setts can be recommended for better productivity and profitability of N14 and Mex54/245 varieties at the Omo Kuraz Sugar factory.