Growth-yield performances and partial economic analysis of sugarcane under different planting methods

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an important tropical crop around the world, involving in Indonesia, however low productivity is still problem for it. The study was aimed to investigate effect of different planting methods on improving cane growth-yield performances and their partial economic analysis. The study was conducted at Gedangdowo, Jepon, Blora District, Central Java, Indonesia from 2015-2017 at initial planting (IP) to sugarcane ratoon SR-1 and SR-2. Material used was qualified seeds of PS.862 variety. Three planting methods were tested: 1) double trench system (DTS) with 50 cm distance between trench and 135 cm distance between double trenches; 2) single trench system (STS) with 120 cm distance of canter to center (CTC) and 3) STS with 110 cm distance of CTC. The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 6 replications. Results of the study revealed that DTS 50/135 was the most appropriate planting method inducing higher cane productivity up to 129.12 t/ha in IP, then increased up to 134.1 t/ha in SR-1 and declined down to 114.1 t/ha in SR-2. Percentage of cane productivity in DTS 50/135 increased up to 40.8% in IP, 51.1% in SR-1 and 64.6% in SR-2. Higher R/C ratio up to 1.99 and 1.94 was performed by STS 120 followed by DTS 50/135. Increasing R/C ratio noted in STS 120 and DTS 50/135 was 18.3 and 21.3%, respectively on SR-1 compared to STS 110. The planting method can be applied to improve sugarcane productivity and its R/C ratio for other varieties.