Stalk population dynamic, yield components and sugar cane production in different management systems in Tucumán, Argentina sugar cane fields

Abstract

Three alternatives (treatments) of sugarcane trash blanket management were evaluated in this paper: a) harvest without burning and removing the residue after harvest (SR); b) harvest without burning and trash blanket maintenance (CR); and c) harvest without burning and trash blanket incorporation (RI). The trial was carried out in Simoca (Tucumán, Argentina). The following variables were evaluated: a) stalks population dynamics, b) yield components and c) sugarcane production. Sugar cane evaluated cultivars were LCP 85-384 and TUC 95-10. The experimental design was completely randomized with three replications per treatment. Each plot consisted of five rows of 10 m long. In the population dynamic study, typical patterns were observed: an increase in the number of stalks during emergence and tillering, reaching its peak by the end of tillering, and a decrease afterwards until the final population. Stalks population at the end of tillering was higher in SR than in SC; however, at harvest there were no differences between treatments. Treatments did not differ in weight, height and stalks diameter at harvest. Sugarcane production/ha showed no differences between treatments, although there was a trend for higher production in CR. At early growth stages, SR showed higher stalk populations. However, at harvest there were no differences between treatments in yield components or sugarcane production; even when a trend for higher production when trash blanket was left was observed.