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Published by the SRA-La Granja Agricultural Research and Extension Center, La Granja, La Carlota City Negros Occidental, Philippines ? 0912-510-1003

September 1997 RESEARCH NOTES : TIME OF PLANTING OF NEW SUGARCANE HYVs

The time of planting plays a significant role in the performance of sugarcane varieties. It is known that varieties differ in performance as the time of planting varies. As a general gui de, sweeter varieties are planted towards the wet season and harvested in not less than 12 months. On the other hand, high tonnage sugarcane varieties are planted toward the dry season and harvested in 10 - 12 months. As new varieties continue to be developed by the Sugarcane Variety Improvement Program of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, there is a need for more information on how these varieties will perform under different planting schedules. Such information is vital in forming a planting program based on variety characteristics. Phil 8715 and Phil 7464 are two new sugarcane varieties commercially grown by sugarcane planters. Phil 8013 and Phil 6607 are two of the recommended varieties earlier adopted by the planters. Phil 8715 is a cross between Phil 79 -3385 and CP 50-28. It is a fast starter, fast

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grower and profusely flowering variety with high tonnage and medium sucrose content. Phil 7464 is a cross between Co 440 and Phil 54 60. It is a fast grower , none to very sparse flowering with high tonnage and high sucrose content. Phil 8013 is a cross between CAC 71-312 and Phil 64-227. It is a fast grower, moderately profuse flowering variety of high tonnage and high sucrose content. Phil 6607 is a cross between Phil 5460 and Co 440. It is a very fast germinator and fast grower variety which is profusely flowering. It is high in tonnage but of average sucrose content. When planted in December, Phil 7464 and Phil 8013 produced more tonnage and sugar yield as well as higher LKg/TC than Phi l 8715 and Phil 6607. Phil 7464 has the highest LKg/TC and the most number of stalks per square meter. Phil 8013 produced the heaviest stalks but has the least stalks per square meter. Phil 6607 has the shortest stalks with the smallest diameter and lig htest weight. When planted in February, Phil 7464 was significantly more in tonnage and sugar

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yield than Phil 8013, Phil 6607 and Phil 8715. LKg/TC, stalk length and weight per stalk were comparable but Phil 8715 stalks were relatively heavier and sign ificantly bigger in diameter. Phil 7464 has the most number of stalks per square meter while Phil 8013 has the least. When planted in April, Phil 8715 produced the heaviest stalks but the least number per square meter. Phil 7464 and Phil 6607 produced significantly more stalks per square meter than Phil 8715. A general decrease in tonnage, sugar yield, stalk length, stalk weight and number of stalks formed per square meter was observed when planting was delayed to February and April. On the other hand , LKg/TC tends to improve with late planting. The increase in size of stalk diameter in the April planting was attributed to the abundant rainfall received by the crop during the early stage of growth. /glr
This article is based mainly on Research Terminal Report entitled Influence of Time of Planting on the Growth and Yield of New Sugarcane Varieties by Ismael S. Bombio and presented at the SRA 1997 National R & D Review and Planning Workshop, June 4-5, 1997, Luzon Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Floridablanca, Pampanga.