The Effect of Ratooning Practices on Cane Yield and Quality Parameters of Sugarcane
Subject Areas : Research On Crop Ecophysiology
ASLAN HASHEMI
1
(Department of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Ahvaz, Iran Author for Correspondence)
ALI REZA SHOKUHFAR
2
(Department of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Ahvaz, Iran Author for Correspondence)
Keywords: yield, Sugarcane, Fuel consumption, Keywords: Ratooning practice, Subsoiler,
Abstract :
ASLAN HASHEMI1, ALI REZA SHOKUHFAR*1 1-Department of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Ahvaz, Iran Author for Correspondence * Corresponding Author Email Address: alireza_shokuhfar@yahoo.com Received: 10 June 2015 Accepted: 20 October 2015 ABSTRACT Soil compaction is a main factor that reduces sugarcane yield in Southwest of Iran, especially in ratoon cropping system. Therefore, sub-soiling practices could alleviate adverse effects of compaction and increased yield. In according to this aim, a study was conducted to study the effect of on cane yield. Ratooning practices consist of control (no subsoiler), two and four shanks subsoiler in two content of soil moisture condition, before irrigation and after irrigation. Soil bulk density was measured in two depths of 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm, as an indicator of soil compaction. Sub-soiling with two, and four shanks significantly (p<0.01) reduced soil bulk density. The results were similar in both depths. The practice of compaction improvement was not affected in before or after irrigation. The effect of sub-soiling was not significant on cane height, sheath moisture, leaf nitrogen purity, and refined sugar. Reduction of soil compaction significantly (p<0.05) increased stalk weight, cane and sugar yields. Statistical analysis showed that sub-soiling and irrigation treatments treatments had significant (p<0.01) effect on reduction of fuel consumption.
The Effect of Ratooning Practices on Cane Yield and Quality Parameters of Sugarcane
Aslan Hashemi1, Ali Reza Shokuhfar*1
1-Department of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Ahvaz, Iran Author for Correspondence
* Corresponding Author Email Address: alireza_shokuhfar@yahoo.com
Received: 10 June 2015 Accepted: 20 October 2015
Abstract
Soil compaction is a main factor that reduces sugarcane yield in Southwest of Iran, especially in ratoon cropping system. Therefore, sub-soiling practices could alleviate adverse effects of compaction and increased yield. In according to this aim, a study was conducted to study the effect of on cane yield. Ratooning practices consist of control (no subsoiler), two and four shanks subsoiler in two content of soil moisture condition, before irrigation and after irrigation. Soil bulk density was measured in two depths of 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm, as an indicator of soil compaction. Sub-soiling with two, and four shanks significantly (p<0.01) reduced soil bulk density. The results were similar in both depths. The practice of compaction improvement was not affected in before or after irrigation. The effect of sub-soiling was not significant on cane height, sheath moisture, leaf nitrogen purity, and refined sugar. Reduction of soil compaction significantly (p<0.05) increased stalk weight, cane and sugar yields. Statistical analysis showed that sub-soiling and irrigation treatments treatments had significant (p<0.01) effect on reduction of fuel consumption.
Keywords: Ratooning practice, Subsoiler, Sugarcane, Yield, Fuel consumption
Introduction
Over the years, soil degradation has become one of the most important problems in agriculture. Erosion, salinization, compaction and loss of organic matter are a principal form of soil degradation (Muhieldeen et al., 2014). Soil compaction is a general problem and a main reason that reduces sugarcane yield, especially in ratoon cropping system, in Southwest of Iran. This adverse problem could have resulted from deficiency of soil organic matter (less than 1%), application of weighty machines in crop harvesting and fine texture of the soils (silty clay – silty clay loam). Intense mechanization involving traffic of heavy machinery for harvesting in wet condition deteriorates for soil physical condition. Soil compaction results in increased bulk density, reduction in porosity, infiltration rates, and water storage capacity and impedes of root penetration (Kumar et al., 2012). The compaction inter-farrow between the cane rows could affect soil physical properties and cane yield. In according to improve detrimental effects of compaction in sugarcane cultivation in Southwest of Iran, the ratooning practices have been proposed. Tillage is one of the most effective ways to reduce soil compaction. Soil physical properties and crop growth are affected by tillage systems (Ji et al., 2013). Where soil compaction is a problem, sub-soiling has been found to help alleviate it (Raper et al., 1998). Sub-soiling the soil using a single shank tractor with a mounted oscillating subsoiler may increase the soil macro-porosity resulting in a lower bulk density (Naseri et al., 2007). The practice of sub-soiling could be a way to improve soil structure and aeration, creating a good environment for plant growth. Management of top soil helps in better moisture conservation, which is essential for proper establishment of the crop (Kumar et al., 2012). In the present study, the evaluated effect of two different subsoiling on reduction of bulk density and changing of cane yield and cane juice quality.
Materials and method
This study was conducted as a field experiment through in second ratoon crop age field in Hakim Farabi Agro-Industrial Co. in Khouzestan province, Southwest of Iran (48° 36΄ E, 30° 59΄ N). The climate of this site has been classified as arid and semi-arid, with annual rainfall of 200-250 mm. The maximum and minimum temperatures during growth period ranged from 16.49°C to 45.18°C and from 5.23°C to 24.23°C, respectively. In according to improve soil e physical characteristics, especially compaction in wheel traffic zones, the treatments were three levels of subsoiler as control (without subsoiler), subsoiler with two shanks (S2), and subsoiler with four shanks (S4). Ratooning practices were performed before and after irrigation. The triplicates treatments were arranged in a split plot design based on randomized complete block with 3 repliactions. The irrigation and subsoiler treatments urea with were the main plot and sub-plot, respectively each plot size was 1.17 ha. Nitrogen fertilizer was a rate of 350 kg/ha.
Soil analysis
Soil samples were collected from 0-30 cm and 30–60 cm depths. The soil samples were air dried and ground to pass through 2 mm sieve. Electrical conductivities of the saturation extract with conductivity meter apparatus (Rhoades 1996), soil acidity in soil extracts by pH meter; soil textures with a hydrometer method (Bouyoucos 1961), percentage of organic carbon by the wet oxidation method (Walkley and Black 1934) were determined. Bulk density was measured by core sampler. For this purpose, soil samples were placed in oven and after 24 h weighed. Bulk density (g/cm3) was calculated as oven-dried soil weight divided to intact soil volume.
Measurements
Cane height and yield, percentage of leaf nitrogen and percentage of sheath moisture were determined. Cane yield was obtained by harvesting one row, 10 m long of each plot. The leaf nitrogen and sheath moisture were determined by Clement’s method (Clements and Sund, 1974). For this porpos, 20-cane stalks were sampled and their weights were recorded, then pressed to extract cane juice. The percent of juice sugar (Pol %) was determined with addition of 2 g lead acetate to 100 mL cane juice and filtered with Whatman No. 42 filter paper, then the amount of Pol reading was attained by polarimeter (AA-55polarimeter-England) in filtrate. Afterwards, the percent of Pol was obtained by standard tables. Percentage of dissolved solids (Brix%) was determined by refractometer (SUMA Brixometer-England). The juice purity was computed by the product of Pol and Pol factor divided to Brix% Pol factor was attained from standard table and Brix%. Furthermore, the percentage of refined sugar (RS%) was calculated as:
RS% = 
(1)
Where Yield was obtained as 100/QR. Quality ratio (QR) was computed from purity factor divided to reality Pol.
Statistical analysis
All data were processed by Microsoft Excel, and statistical analyses were perormed using MINITAB 16 software.
Results and discussions
The results of soil analysis indicated that the soil of experiment al field consisted has a fine texture (silty clay loam) with compaction. Capacity, and could classify as saline soil (EC 2.14 dS m-1(pH 8.1)). The amount of soil organic matter was low (0.18%) which is the characteristic of arid and semi-arid regions (Table 1).
Table 1. Physico-chemical properties of experimental soil | ||||
pH | EC (dS m-1) | O.M% | Soil Texture |
|
8.1 | 2.07 | 0.21 | silty clay loam | 0-30 cm |
8.1 | 2.21 | 0.14 | silty clay loam | 30-60 cm |
As shown in Figure 1, the effect of subsoiler before and after irrigation was not significant in reduction of bulk density. Sub-soiling with two shanks significantly (p<0.01) reduced soil bulk density, as compared to control. Moreover, the application of four shanks subsoiler for also significantly (p<0.01) reduced soil compaction it. Reduction of soil bulk density was 29.5% and 37.95% in 0-20 cm depth for two shanks and four shanks, respectively. Machine traffic in the field is one of the main causes of soil compaction that alters soil physical, chemical and biological properties and therefore has direct impact on crop yield. The direct effect of soil density on yield is through increased soil resistance to root growth and reduction in the availability of water (Bangite and Rao, 2012).
The effect of four shanks (S4) subsoiler in reduction of soil bulk density was greater than two shanks, but the difference was not significant. In depth of 20-40 cm, the reduction of bulk density was 36% and 20.6% for two (S2) and four (S4) shanks, respectively. The results were similar for sub-soiling before and after irrigation. Based on these results, the use of subsoiler can reduced soil compaction, up to the depth of 40 cm (measured in this study) and improve soil conditions for plant growth. These results were opposed with Ng Cheong et al. (2009) that concluded compaction induced by harvester traffic occur mainly in the top 20 cm, beneath which the soil remained relatively unaffected. Bangita and Rao (2012) showded that compaction relief treatment, reduced the soil compaction by the in the wheel traffic zones between cane rows.
Figure1. Effect of two and four shanks subsoiler before (I) and after (II) irrigation means with at least one common letter are not statistically different.
Cane height
The change of soil moisture content before and after sub-soiling, could not increase cane height. Ratooning practices by subsoiler increased cane height, although the effect was not significant (Table 2). The highest cane height (234 cm) was obtained in subsoiler treatment, and control had the lowest cane height (223 cm). The application of subsoiler in before irrigation increased cane height more than sub-soiling after irrigation. In comparison with control treatment, cane height in two and four shanks subsoiling before of irrigation increased 5.9% and 72% respectively. On the other hand, sub-soiling practices caused 3.2% and 4.7% increase in cane height in two and four shanks, respectively. The higher amount of moisture in subsoiling after irrigation might cause lower deleterious effect on soil as compared to subsoiling before irrigation. This could resulted from sugarcane root sensitivity to aeration and compaction (Swin et al., 1984).
Cane stalk weight
Irrigation before or after sub-soiling did not improved cane stalk weight. The weight of a stalk was significantly (p<0.05) affected by sub-soiling practices, (Table 2). The effects of both subsoiling were similar on stalk weight treatments. Two shunk subsoiler irrigation caused on and increased of 9.7% and 11.48% in cane stalk weight in, respectively. The S4 treatment before and after irrigation caused on increase of 9% and 13.23%. Furthermore, stalk weight was one of the main components of cane yield that could be effect by production conditions. Sandip mandal (2009) showed that subsoiling increased 15% and 9.8% cane yield and stalk weight, respectively.
Sheath moisture and leaf nitrogen content
The sheath moisture and leaf nitrogen content were not affected significantly by ratooning practices and irrigation treatments (Table 2).
| Table 2. Summary of analysis of variance of the effects of irrigation and subsoiling on quantity and quality characters of sugarcane | ||||||||
fuel consumption | sugar yield | refined sugar | purity (%) | cane yield | leaf nitrogen (%) | sheath moisture (%) | stalk weight (g) | cane height (cm) | treatments |
** | ns | ns | ns | ns | ns | ns | ns | ns | Irrigation (I) |
** | * | ns | ns | * | ns | ns | * | ns | Subsoiler (S) |
** | ns | ns | ns | ns | ns | ns | ns | ns | I × S |
| ns: non-significant; *: significant in 5%; **: significant in 1% | ||||||||
Cane yield
The results showed that cane yield was significantly (p<0.05) affected by sub-soiling treatments, while the irrigation treatments before or and after subsoiling did not affecte (Table 2). The effect of subsoiler ranged improved from 8.33% to 9.83% in before irrigation from 8.59% to 9.94% in subsoiling after irrigation. Therefore, the ratooning practice (sub-soiling) is recommended for improvement of soil physical conditions and increase of sugarcane yield. Jagtab et al. (1992) in a field experiment showed that cane yield was increased by 45% due to sub-soiling practices. Tillage practice in unsuitable conditions caused to decrease yield in ratoon field. The ratooning practices would minimize the adverse effect of soil compaction. Two and four shanks subsoiler treatments had no significant difference (Figure 2).Sub-soiling practices are necessary in sugarcane fields to create a suitable bed for root growth and increase of yield.
Figure 2. Effect of subsoiler on cane yield before (I0) and after (I1) irrigation means with at least one common letter are not statistically different.
Quality traits
The purity percent was not significant affected by sub-soiling treatments. The impact of sub-soiling on refined sugar (RS) was not significant. As it is shown in Table 2, the
sub-soiling practices increased sugar yield significantly while irrigation effect was not significantly. The sugar yield in four shanks treatment was the highest (9.13 ton ha-1), and control treatment had the lowest sugar yield (8.12 ton ha-1). The increase of sugar yield in sub-soiling treatments was originated from the effect of sub-soiling on cane yield.
Fuel consumption
The amount of fuel consumption was calculated by a direct method of the full tank. The statistical analysis (Table 2) showed that, irrigation and sub-soiling treatments, had significant (p<0.01) effect on reduction of fuel consumption. Application of two shanks subsoiler to reduce compaction used lower fuel consumption as compared to four shanks traetment. Moisture condition affected fuel consumption. The lowest fuel consumption was obtained from sub-soiling after irrigation. Furthermore, the application of two shanks subsoiler after irrigation could use for reduction of soil compaction.
Conclusion
The relief practice of sub-soiling to reduce compaction was conducted in the field. application of two and four shanks subsoiler reduced of soil bulk density by 29.5% and 37.95% in 0-20 cm, respectively. In depths of 20-40 cm, the reduction of bulk density was 36% and 20.6% for two and four shanks, respectively. Furthermore, sub-soiling practice reduced soil compaction. The ratooning practice by subsoiler increased cane height, but not it was significant. Weight of stalk was affected by sub-soiling practices, but not by irrigation treatments. Cane yield was significantly increased by sub-soiling treatments, and this effect ranged from 8.33% to 9.83% in subsoiling before irrigation and from 8.59% to 9.94% in subsoiling after irrigation. Two and four shanks had no treatments significant differences in cane yield. Purity percent and refined sugar were not significantly affected by sub-soiling treatments. These results showed that purity and refined sugar content were not affected by subsoiler and were mostly related to sugarcane yield. Irrigation and subsoilng, had significant effect on reduction of fuel consumption. Finaly, in accordance to reduction of compaction and increase of yield, two shanks subsoiler after irrigation is recommended.
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