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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

On-farm sugarcane yield and yield components as influenced by number of harvests

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Author(s):
Marin, Fabio R. [1] ; Edreira, Juan Ignacio Rattalino [2] ; Andrade, Jose [2] ; Grassini, Patricio [2]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr ESALQ, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Nebraska, Dept Agron & Hort, Lincoln, NE 68503 - USA
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: FIELD CROPS RESEARCH; v. 240, p. 134-142, JUL 1 2019.
Web of Science Citations: 1
Abstract

Sugarcane is the most important sugar crop worldwide, with Brazil accounting for 38% of global production. Recent slowdown in sugarcane annual yield gains in Brazil has been attributed to longer replanting time and associated higher number of ratoon harvests. However, little is known about changes in on-farm sugarcane yield and its components as influenced by number of harvests. In this study, we used a large database collected from commercial sugarcane fields ('blocks') to assess the influence of number of harvests on variation in sugar yield and its components: stalk fresh yield (SFY) and sucrose concentration (POL%). Blocks were first clustered based on similarity of climate and soil (hereafter referred as `environments'). Influence of number of harvests on sugar yield, SFY, and POL% was evaluated across environments using analysis of variance and quantile and least square regressions. On-farm SFY versus number of harvests trends were compared against existing data collected from well-managed experiments. Variation in sucrose yield across block-years was mostly explained by changes in SFY and, in much lesser degree, by POL%. There was a decline in SFY with number of harvests in all cases; however, rate and magnitude of decline was different across climate-soil domains, with faster yield decline in poor soils and larger yield penalty in the region with relatively short sugarcane cropping history. Still, there was large variation in on-farm yield at any environment x harvest number combination, highlighting the importance of management at explaining current yield gap. Conversely, POL% was not affected by number of harvests and varied little across environments. Analysis of data from well-managed experiments showed no detectable yield decline with increasing number of harvests, suggesting that observed on-farm yield decline is attributable to suboptimal management in commercial blocks. Findings from this study can help inform policy and management associated with replanting decisions. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 17/20925-0 - Brazilian yield-gap atlas: assessing the potential for sustainable intensification of Brazilian agriculture
Grantee:Fabio Ricardo Marin
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
FAPESP's process: 17/50445-0 - Brazilian yield-gap atlas: assessing the potential for sustainable intensification of Brazilian agriculture
Grantee:Fabio Ricardo Marin
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants