EFFECT OF DRYING-OFF PERIOD ON YIELD AND
QUALITY OF SOME SUGARCANE VARIETIES
Abazied, Sakina R. (1) and E.H.S. El-Laboudy (2)
(1) Technology, (2) Agronomy Res. Dept., Sugar Crops Res. Inst., ARC, Giza, Egypt
ABSTRACT
The present work was carried out during 2018/2019 (plant cane) and
2019/2020 (first ratoon) at Kom Ombo Agricultural Research Station,
(latitude of 24o 28′ North and longitude of 32o 57′ East at an elevation of 108
m above sea level), Aswan Governorate to find out the optimum drying-off
period (15, 30, 45 and 60 days before harvesting date) for five sugarcane
varieties (G.T.54-9, G.84-47, G.2003-47, G.99-103 and Cu.57-14). A
randomized complete block design, in strip plot arrangement, with three
replications, was used.
The results showed that the two studied factors affected significantly
all studied traits in the virgin cane and its first ratoon crop. The highest
values of sucrose, purity, richness, sugar recovery percentages and sugar
yield/fad were recorded with 30 days drying-off, while the highest values of
millable cane weight and cane yield were obtained, sugarcane was dried-off
for 15 days. The promising variety G.2003-47 showed the superiority over
the other varieties in sucrose, purity, richness, sugar recovery percentages,
and sugar yield, while the highest values of millable cane weight and cane
yield/fad were given by G.99-103.
Under the conditions of the current work, on Kom Ombo, sugarcane
crop irrigation should be withheld for 30 days before harvesting for
maximum sugar yield/fad.
INTRODUCTION
Sugar cane, as a robust tillering crop, requires adequate application of
fertilizers, water, dense solar radiation and warmth to grow well. On the
other hand, it requires a dry, cool period, associated with low soil moisture
content, caused by withholding irrigation before harvesting for an
appropriate period to enhance its ripening i.e., accelerate the translocation of
sugar from leaves to the millable canes. On the contrary, prolonging fasting
duration before harvesting may negatively affect cane quality and sugar
yield. To determine the optimum duration of stopping irrigation before
harvesting, many investigators studied the effect of dry-off period on yield
and quality of sugarcane. Among them, Khaleifah (1990); Donaldson and
Bezuidenhout (2000); Inman-Bamber and Smith (2005); Olivier, et al.
(2006); Abiy and Negi (2014); Getaneh and Negi (2014); Hagos, et al.
(2014); Abdelkarim, and Mahdi, (2015); Getaneh, et al. (2015); Araújo,
et al. (2016) and Ashagre and Khan (2020).
It is known that sugarcane varieties are the corner stones to maximize
productivity per unit area. Nowadays, the commercial variety G.T.54-9
Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 36 (1) 2021 1-15
occupies most of the area planted with sugarcane in Egypt. Recently, Sugar
Crops Research Institute released some new varieties of sugarcane, among
them G.84-47, G.99-103 and G.2003-47. Many investigators reported
differences among sugarcane varieties in growth, yield and quality traits as
El-Geddawy, et. al. (2002); El-Shafai and Ismail (2006); Taha, et al.
(2008); El-Maghraby, et al. (2009); Abazied, (2018); Gadallah and
Mehareb (2020) and Ahmed, et al. (2020).
The objective of this study was to determine the optimum dry-off
period for sugarcane fields in order to achieve the maximum sugar yield/fad.
MATERALS AND METHODS
The present work was carried out during 2018/2019 (plant cane) and
2019/2020 (first ratoon) at Kom Ombo Agricultural Research Station,
(latitude of 24o 28′ North and longitude of 32o 57′ East at an elevation of 108
m above sea level), Aswan Governorate to find out the optimum drying-off
period (15, 30, 45 and 60 days before harvesting) for five sugarcane varieties
(G.T.54-9, G.84-47, G.2003-47, G.99-103 and Cu.57-14). A randomized
complete block design, in strip plot arrangement, with three replications was
used, where drying-off periods were located in the horizontal plots, while
sugarcane varieties were randomly distributed in the vertical ones. Plot area
was 35 m2, including five rows of one meter apart and seven meters in
length. Sugarcane varieties were planted in the 1st week of March and
harvested at twelve-month age, in both seasons. Plots left without irrigation
for 15, 30, 45 and 60 days before harvesting. Some meteorological data for
ten weeks (from1 January to 6 March, in 2019 and 2020) during withholding
irrigation at Kom Ombo were recorded in Table (1). All plots received the
other agricultural operations as recommended by the Sugar Crops Research
Institute (SCRI).
Table (1): Meteorological data from 1st January to 6th March 2019
and 2020 at Kom Ombo
Week
2019 2020
Temperature o C Humidity % Temperature o C Humidity %
Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max
1st 4.9 21.3 30.3 94.0 4.6 20.4 30.0 85.7
2nd 3.6 20.4 27.4 100.1 2.2 18.4 32.0 90.1
3th 3.7 24.0 29.7 106.6 6.5 24.1 24.9 96.7
4th 3.0 26.9 22.0 92.4 5.6 20.1 31.6 83.4
5th 7.3 24.9 24.9 82.6 5.8 23.3 22.3 89.9
6th 10.7 27.8 28.1 65.6 5.5 25.3 24.9 88.7
7th 5.9 23.7 28.4 89.4 6.5 23.0 32.7 81.9
8th 5.2 23.9 24.7 87.0 7.8 25.7 30.9 86.0
9th 10.2 26.3 26.7 73.3 7.4 25.0 30.8 89.1
10th 6.7 26.1 23.6 75.1 8.4 29.7 22.6 80.0
Source: Agricultural meteorological Station, Kom Ombo Sugar Factory, Aswan
2 Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 36 (1) 2021
The recorded data:
At harvest, a sample of twenty millable canes was taken from each
treatment to determine the following traits:
1. Millable cane weight/plant (kg).
2. Sucrose % was determined using a “Saccharimeter” as shown in
A.O.A.C. (2005).
3. Juice purity % was calculated according to the equation of Singh and
Singh (1998) as follows:
Juice purity % = sucrose % x100 / TSS %.
4. Richness % was calculated according to the equation described by
E.S.I.I.C. (1981).
Richness % = (sucrose % g juice x richness factor)/100
Where:
Sucrose%, g juice = (sucrose % cm3 juice) / juice density
Juice density was taken from Schibler’s Tables.
Richness factor = 100 - (fiber % x 1.3).
5. Sugar recovery % was calculated according to the equation of Yadav
and Sharma (1980) as follows:
Sugar recovery % = [S % - 0.4 (B% - S %)] x 0.73
Where:
S%: sucrose percentage and B % = brix percentage
0.4: each pound of non-sucrose solids in cane juice retains 0.4 pound of
sucrose as outlined by Hebert (1973).
0.73: a correction factor for actual milling condition in factories that
depends on the overall mean fiber% cane during processing as outlined
by Mathur (1997).
8. Cane yield/fad (ton) was calculated based on plot area.
9. Sugar yield/fad (ton) was calculated according to the following
equation as described by Mathur (1997):
Sugar yield/fad (ton) = cane yield/fad (ton) x sugar recovery %.
Statistical analysis:
The collected data were statistically analyzed according to the
method described by Snedecor and Cochran (1981). Treatment means
were compared using LSD at 5% level of difference as outlined by Steel
and Torrie (1980).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
1. Millable cane weight:
Data in Table (2) showed that millable cane weight was
significantly and gradually decreased as the drying-off period was
prolonged up to 60 days in the two growing seasons. The reduction in
millable cane weight could be attributed to moisture loss. These results
are in harmony with those obtained by Donaldson and Bezuidenhout
Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 36 (1) 2021 3
(2000) and Abiy and Negi (2014), who found significant differences in
stalk weight with delaying drying-off period.
The results showed that the tested sugarcane varieties differed
significantly in the single millable cane weight/plant. Sugarcane G.99-
103 variety exhibited the superiority in this growth trait, recording (0.225
and 0.199 kg), (0.397 and 0.333 kg), (0.378 and 0.330 kg) and (0.431 and
0.341 kg) over that given by G.T.54-9, G.84-47, G.2003-47 and C.57-14
cane varieties, in the plant cane and first ratoon, respectively. Meanwhile,
it can be noticed that C.57-14 cane variety had the lightest single stalk
among the evaluated varieties. These results may be attributed to the
genetic differences among varieties. These results are in accordance with
those obtained by El-Maghraby, et al. (2009); Abazied (2018) and
Gadallah and Mehareb (2020), who found substantial variances among
the tested sugarcane varieties in cane weight in both seasons.
Table (2): Effect of drying-off period on millable cane weight
(kg/plant) of some sugarcane varieties in plant and first
ratoon cane crops during 2018/2019 and 2019/2020
Sugarcane
varieties
Plant cane crop 1st ratoon crop
Drying-off period (day)
Mean
Drying-off period (day)
Mean
15 30 45 60 15 30 45 60
G.T.54-9 1.342 1.356 1.299 1.240 1.309 1.212 1.208 1.177 1.134 1.183
G.84-47 1.167 1.164 1.135 1.083 1.137 1.071 1.070 1.045 1.010 1.049
G.2003-47 1.180 1.179 1.153 1.110 1.156 1.071 1.071 1.046 1.021 1.052
G.99-103 1.577 1.569 1.533 1.456 1.534 1.418 1.412 1.375 1.323 1.382
Cu. 57-14 1.131 1.128 1.100 1.051 1.103 1.063 1.061 1.035 1.005 1.041
Mean 1.279 1.279 1.244 1.188 1.167 1.164 1.136 1.099
LSD.at 0.05 level for:
Drying-off periods (A) 0.003 0.002
Sugarcane varieties (B) 0.015 0.009
A x B 0.035 0.015
Millable cane weight was appreciably influenced by the
interaction between varieties and drying-off periods in both cane crops.
In the plant cane, insignificant differences were detected in stalk weight
of G.84-47, G.2003-47 and C.57-14, when irrigation was cut-off for 15
and up to 45 days before harvesting. However, fresh millable cane weight
of G.T.54-9 and G.99-103 decreased substantially as the period of fasting
was extended from 15 to 45 days after the last irrigation. These findings
show that the period of irrigation cutting-off should not exceed 30 days
before harvesting for G.T.54-9 and G.99-103 varieties.
2. Sucrose percentage:
The results in Table (3) indicate that sucrose% in cane juice was
significantly affected by drying off period. A gradual increase in sucrose%
was recorded as the period of irrigation withholding before harvesting was
prolonged up to 45 days, and decreased thereafter at 60 days, in both
4 Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 36 (1) 2021
seasons. Meantime, insignificant variance was found among 30, 45 and 60
days of fasting before harvesting, in their influence on this quality trait, in
the 1st season, as well as between 45 and 60 days, in the 2nd one. Moreover,
the lowest sucrose% was recorded in canes fastened for 15 days only,
probably due to higher cane water content, negatively affect sucrose%,
determined as sucrose, g in 100 cm3 of cane juice, where the higher the
water content in juice, the lower the sucrose%, and vice versa. On the
contrary, the results cleared that canes deprived of the water supply for
longer period up to 45 days had higher sucrose%. On the other hand, the
exposure of canes to an extreme fasting up to 60 days before harvest, led to a
reduction in sucrose%, probably due to the conversion of stored sucrose (disaccharide)
in canes, into glucose and fructose (mono-saccharides) to get
energy under severe drought conditions. In fact, the reduction of moisture
content in canes before harvest, caused by moderate drought conditions
force canes to accumulate more sucrose in cane juice. These results are in
agreement with those reported by Donaldson and Bezuidenhout (2000);
Abiy and Negi (2014); Hagos, et al. (2014), Abdelkarim and Mahdi
(2015) and Ashagre and Khan (2020), who noted an increase in sucrose
percent as dry-off period was extended up to the 60 days.
Table (3): Effect of drying-off period on sucrose percentage of some
sugarcane varieties in plant and first ratoon crops, during
2018/2019 and 2019/2020
Sugarcane
Varieties
Plant cane crop 1st ratoon crop
Drying-off period/day
Mean
Drying-off period/day
Mean
15 30 45 60 15 30 45 60
G.T.54-9 16.12 16.84 17.00 17.04 16.75 16.52 17.30 17.50 17.56 17.22
G.84-47 16.37 16.96 17.41 17.35 17.02 16.80 17.58 18.21 18.10 17.67
G.2003-47 18.21 18.86 18.66 18.54 18.57 18.64 19.34 19.17 19.10 19.06
G.99-103 15.80 16.25 16.16 16.05 16.07 16.28 16.87 16.83 16.78 16.69
Cu. 57-14 16.68 17.10 17.14 17.17 17.02 17.07 17.39 17.95 18.01 17.68
Mean 16.64 17.20 17.27 17.23 17.06 17.76 17.93 17.91
LSD at 0.05 level for:
Drying-off periods (A) 0.18 0.09
Sugar cane varieties (B) 0.19 0.24
A x B 0.39 0.48
The results indicated that the tested sugarcane varieties varied
significantly in sucrose% in the plant and first ratoon crops. Sugarcane
G.2003-47 had a relative advantage in this trait over the other varieties,
recording the highest value of sucrose%, while the lowest one was given
by G.99-103 variety, in in both seasons. Varietal differences may be
attributed to their genetic make-up. These results are in agreement with
those obtained by El-Shafai and Ismail (2006); Taha, et al. (2008) and
Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 36 (1) 2021 5
Ahmed, et al. (2020), who found significant variance among the
evaluated cane varieties in sucrose%.
Sucrose% responded significantly to the interactions among the two
studied factors in both seasons. The tested sugarcane varieties did not
behave the same under the four drying-off periods In the 1st season,
sucrose% of G.84-47 variety was significantly increased by increasing
drying-off period from 30 to 45 days. However, insignificant variance in
this quality trait was recorded by the other varieties as exposed to these
two fasting durations. Similarly, an appreciable increase in sucrose% of
G.84-47 and C.57-14 was detected as the period of irrigation withholding
was extended from 30 to 45 days before harvest, without significant
difference in this quality characteristic of the other varieties as influenced
by these two periods of fasting, in the 1st ratoon cane crop.
3. Juice purity percentage:
Data in Table (4) showed that the juice purity percentage was
affected significantly by drying-off period treatment in both seasons. Also,
data displayed declining trend starting from 30 days, to reach its lowest
value at 60 days after withholding irrigation, which could be attributed to the
negative effect of drastic moisture stress on the photosynthetic rate and
sucrose accumulation. Similar results were reported by Getaneh and Negi
(2014); Hagos, et al. (2014) and Ashagre, and Khan (2020), who
reported that withholding irrigation period significantly affected purity
percentage. Insignificant difference between 15 and 45 days of fasting in
their influence on juice purity%, in the 1st ratoon cane crop.
The results in Table (4) indicate that the evaluated cane varieties
differed significantly in purity % in the plant cane and its first ratoon crops.
In both seasons, G.2003-47 showed the superiority in juice purity% over
the other varieties, while G.99-103 variety recorded the lowest value of
this trait. Moreover, insignificant variance in purity% was found between
G.T.54-9 and G.84-47 grown as plant cane crop. Likewise, G.T.54-9,
G.84-47 and C.57-14 varieties did not differ significantly in this quality
trait, in the 1st ratoon cane crop. These results are probably referred to
the same performance and tendency recorded by these varieties
concerning sucrose% (Table 3), where it is known that, the higher the
sucrose% of cane juice, the higher the purity% and vice versa. The
variation among sugarcane varieties in their juice purity% was reported
by El-Geddawy, et al. (2002); El-Shafai and Ismail (2006) and Gadallah
and Mehareb (2020), who found significant difference among the
evaluated sugarcane varieties in juice purity%.
6 Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 36 (1) 2021
Table (4): Effect of drying-off period on purity percentage of some
sugar cane varieties in plant and first ratoon crops,
during 2018/2019 and 2019/2020
Sugarcane
Varieties
Plant cane crop 1st ratoon crop
Drying-off periods/day Mean Drying-off periods/day Mean
15 30 45 60 15 30 45 60
G.T.54-9 85.29 87.25 86.34 80.57 84.86 85.60 87.59 86.45 81.11 85.19
G.84-47 85.44 86.97 84.84 81.38 84.66 86.38 87.29 85.36 82.27 85.33
G.2003-47 87.76 90.37 88.28 86.31 88.18 88.17 90.50 88.47 86.23 88.34
G.99-103 84.13 85.08 82.74 78.33 82.57 84.79 85.94 83.36 78.48 83.14
Cu. 57-14 85.94 86.32 83.81 80.95 84.26 87.00 88.16 84.29 81.42 85.22
Mean 85.71 87.20 85.20 81.51 86.39 87.90 85.59 81.90
LSD at 0.05 level for:
Drying-off periods (A) 0.23 0.46
Sugar cane varieties (B) 0.30 0.49
A x B 0.59 0.99
The results showed that purity% was significantly responded to
the interaction between the studied factors, in both seasons. In the plant
cane, insignificant difference in juice purity% of G.3003-47 was found,
when fasting duration was prolonged from 30 to 45 days. The same
finding was detected in the 1st ratoon cane crop. However, juice purity%
of G.47-84 and G.99-103 varieties markedly decreased as affected by
extending the irrigation cutting-off period from 30 to 45 days before
harvesting, in both cane crops.
4. Richness percentage:
Data in Table (5) pointed out that drying-off period treatment
significantly affected richness percentage (Pol %) in the two seasons. The
results displayed a declining trend in richness% starting from 30 and 45
days after irrigation withholding, in the 1st and 2nd season, respectively,
without significant variance between these two fasting periods in their
influence on this trait, in both seasons. The increase in richness%
accompanied extending drying off period from 15 to 30 days was due to
an increase in sucrose content (Table 3). In addition, excessive of fasting
of canes for 60 days before cutting led to a substantial reduction in
richness% in comparison to that recorded at 45 days, in both seasons.
These results are in agreement with those obtained by Khaleifah (1990);
Getaneh, et al. (2015) and Ashagre and Khan (2020), who found that
the recorded richness% was significantly higher in canes fastened for 50
days than those deprived from irrigation supply for 60 days.
Data in the same table pointed to a significant difference among
the evaluated sugar cane varieties in richness%, in both seasons. The
highest mean value of this trait was recorded by the promising sugarcane
variety G.2003-47, while the lowest was recorded by G.99-103 variety.
These results are probably attributed to the same trend exhibited by these
two varieties in respect to sucrose%, which is the main factor in
richness% estimation (Table 3). These results are in agreement with those
Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 36 (1) 2021 7
reported by Abazied (2018) and Ahmed, et al. (2020), who found
significant difference in richness% among the tested sugarcane varieties.
Table (5) Effect of drying-off period on richness percentage of some
sugar cane varieties in plant and first ratoon crops,
during 2018/2019 and 2019/2020
Sugarcane
Varieties
Plant cane crop 1st ratoon crop
Drying-off periods/Day Mean Drying-off periods/Day Mean
15 30 45 60 15 30 45 60
G.T.54-9 13.34 13.87 13.92 13.76 13.72 13.59 14.15 14.27 14.07 14.02
G.84-47 13.51 13.94 14.15 13.95 13.89 13.75 14.33 14.67 14.42 14.29
G.2003-47 15.11 15.61 15.34 15.09 15.29 15.39 15.93 15.73 15.45 15.63
G.99-103 13.05 13.37 13.19 12.94 13.14 13.36 13.78 13.63 13.42 13.55
Cu. 57-14 13.82 14.14 14.10 13.88 13.99 14.06 14.54 14.61 14.80 14.50
Mean 13.77 14.19 14.14 13.92 13.03 14.55 14.58 14.43
LSD at 0.05 level for:
Drying-off periods (A) 0.06 0.10
Sugar cane varieties (B) 0.08 0.11
A x B 0.17 0.22
The interaction between varieties and drying-off periods
significantly affected richness%. In the plant cane, it was found that
extending fasting period from 30 to 45 days had insignificant effect on
richness% recorded by G.T.54-9 and C.57-9, while richness% of the
other cane varieties was significantly reduced at 45 days. In the 1st ratoon
cane crop, richness% of G.84-47 variety increased markedly with
prolonging irrigation cutting-off period from 30 to 45 days, while the
other cane varieties were insignificantly influenced.
5. Sugar recovery percentage:
Different drying-off periods had a significant effect on sugar
recovery% (Table 6). It was noticed that lengthening the period of
irrigation withholding before harvesting from 15 to 30 days caused an
appreciable increase in sugar recovery%. Thereafter, a gradual reduction
in this quality trait was recorded, in the plant and 1st ratoon cane crops.
Meantime, insignificant variance was found in sugar recovery% in cases
exposed to 30 or 45 days of fasting. These results manifest that sugar
canes should be subjected to a moderate drought to slow down their
vegetative growth and enhance sugar translocation and storage in canes,
raising sugar recovery%. Similar results were reported by Oliver, et al.
(2006); Hagos, et al. (2014) and Abdelkarim and Mahdi (2015), who
found that percentage of recoverable sucrose was significantly affected
by drying-off period.
The results in the same table pointed to a significant variation
among the studied cane varieties in sugar recovery%. The results pointed
out that G.2003-47 variety characterized with the best value of this trait,
while G.99-103 variety occupied the last rank among the tested varieties,
in both seasons, probably due to the same performance of varieties,
concerning sucrose% (Table 3). It can be noticed that the variances
8 Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 36 (1) 2021
among G.T.54-9, G.84-47 and C.57-14 varieties were insignificant in the
plant cane crop. These results coincide with those mentioned by El-
Geddawy, et al. (2002); El-Shafai and Ismail (2006) and Ahmed, et al.
(2020), who mentioned that sugarcane varieties differed significantly in
sugar recovery%.
Table (6) Effect of drying-off period on sugar recovery percentage of
some sugarcane varieties in plant and first ratoon crops,
during 2018/2019 and 2019/2020
Sugarcane
Varieties
Plant cane crop 1st ratoon crop
Drying-off periods/day Mean Drying-off periods/day Mean
15 30 45 60 15 30 45 60
G.T.54-9 10.96 11.57 11.62 11.24 11.35 11.25 11.91 12.01 11.62 11.70
G.84-47 11.14 11.64 11.80 11.51 11.52 11.49 12.09 12.33 12.07 12.00
G.2003-47 12.55 13.18 12.89 12.68 12.83 12.88 13.53 13.28 13.05 13.19
G.99-103 10.66 11.05 10.81 10.42 10.74 11.03 11.51 11.30 10.91 11.19
Cu. 57-14 11.38 11.69 11.55 11.35 11.49 11.72 12.17 11.92 11.77 11.90
Mean 11.34 11.83 11.73 11.44 11.67 12.24 12.17 11.88
LSD at 0.05 level for:
Drying-off periods (A) 0.21 0.13
Sugar cane varieties (B) 0.18 0.18
A x B 0.34 0.35
The interaction between the two studied factors had a significant
effect on sugar recovery% in both seasons. In the plant cane, it was
noticed that difference in sugar recovery% of G.T.54-9, G.84-47 and
G.3003-47 varieties was substantially improved, when irrigation
prohibition period was prolonged from 15 to 45 days. Nevertheless, each
of G.99-103 and C.57-14 varieties recorded almost the same values of
this trait, without significant variance in case they were fastened for 15 or
45 days. The same results were obtained in the 1st ratoon.
6. Cane yield/fad:
Data in Table (7) indicate that drying-off periods had a significant
effect on cane yield/fed in the plant and its first ratoon cane crops.
Practicing drying-off periods of 15, 30, 45 and 60 days before harvesting
was accompanied a decrease of 0.162, 1.397 and 3.618 ton of canes/fad,
successively, in the plant cane crop, corresponding to 0.316, 1.493 and
3.671 ton/fad, in the first ratoon crop. These results may be referred to
the reduction of the single millble cane weight/plant (Table 2) as the of
irrigation withholding was increased. Moreover, insignificant variance in
cane yield/fad was noticed, when irrigation was stopped for 15 and/or 30
days before harvesting, in both cane crops. These results are in agreement
with those reported by Khaleifah, (1990); Donaldson and Bezuidenhout
(2000); Inman-Bamber (2002); Olivier, et al. (2006) and Hagos, et al.
(2014), who found that cane yield was significantly influenced by drying off
period.
Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 36 (1) 2021 9
The results pointed to significant differences among the tested
varieties with respect to cane yield/fad in the two seasons. Sugar cane G.99-
103 variety out-yielding G.T.54-9, G.84-47, G.2003-47 and C.57-14
varieties by 2.715, 6.984, 7.197 and 8.901 ton/fad, in the plant cane crop,
respectively, corresponding to 3.478, 5.162, 7.408 and 7.504 ton/fad, in the
1st ratoon. The superiority of G.99-103 was actually due to its greatest
millable cane weight (Table 2). These findings are in line with those found
by Taha, et al. (2008); El-Maghraby, et al. (2009); Abazied (2018) and
Ahmed, et al. (2020), found that there were recorded significant differences
among the tested varieties in cane yield.
Table (7): Effect of drying-off period on cane yield/fad (ton) of some
sugarcane varieties in the plant and first ratoon cane
crops, during 2018/2019 and 2019/2020
Sugarcane
Varieties
Plant cane crop 1st ratoon crop
Drying-off periods/day Mean Drying-off periods/day Mean
15 30 45 60 15 30 45 60
G.T.54-9 53.534 53.294 51.844 49.497 52.042 49.392 49.202 47.932 46.203 48.182
G.84-47 49.020 48.895 47.685 45.491 47.773 48.209 47.170 46.070 44.544 46.498
G.2003-47 48.560 48.542 47.457 45.682 47.560 45.884 45.873 44.830 40.421 44.252
G.99-103 56.313 56.003 54.730 51.983 54.757 53.013 52.783 51.383 49.462 51.660
Cu. 57-14 47.034 46.917 45.757 43.717 45.856 45.100 44.990 43.920 42.614 44.156
Mean 50.892 50.730 49.495 47.274 48.320 48.004 46.827 44.649
LSD at 0.05 level for:
Drying-off periods (A) 0.909 1.262
Sugar cane varieties (B) 0.775 1.149
A x B 1.550 2.298
The interaction between drying-off period and sugarcane varieties
significantly affected cane yield/fad, in both seasons. Cane yield was
significantly affected by the interaction between drying-off period and
varieties in both seasons. Significant reduction in cane yield given by
G.T.54-9 and G.99-103 varieties was recorded in case of extending fasting
duration from 15 to 45 days. However, these two periods of irrigation
withholding had insignificant influence on cane yield of the other tested
varieties, in the plant cane crop. This means that the varieties did not behave
the same at the different drying-off period. Generally, highest cane yield was
recorded with the promising variety G. 99-103 with 15 days drying-off in
both seasons.
7. Sugar yield/fad:
The results in Table (8) showed that sugar yield was substantially
influenced by the studied drying off period before harvesting, in the two
seasons. The highest sugar yield was obtained from sugar cane dried-off for
30 days before harvesting, which out-yielded that fastened for 15, 45 and 60
days by 0.231, 0.201 and 0.592 ton of sugar/fad, in the 1st season,
10 Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 36 (1) 2021
corresponding to 0.259, 0.180 and 0.492 ton/fad, in the 2nd one,
successively. These results can be referred to the main components of the
sugar yield i.e., sugar recovery % (Table 6) and cane yield/fed (Table 7),
where sugar recovery% had the same trend as affected by irrigation
withholding period. Although, the highest cane yield/fed was obtained by
canes fastened for 15 days before harvesting, insignificant variance was
detected with that dried-off for 30 days, showing the important and distinct
influence of sugar recovery % on the extracted sugar yield/fad. These results
are in agreement with these obtained by Khaleifah (1990); Abdelkarim
and Mahdi (2015); Getaneh, et al. (2015); Araújo, et al. (2016) and
Ashagre and Khan (2020), who found that withholding irrigation before
harvest, have a significant effect on sugar yield.
Table (8): Effect of drying-off period on sugar yield/fad (ton) of some
sugar cane varieties in the plant and first ratoon crops,
during 2018/2019 and 2019/2020
Sugarcane
Varieties
Plant cane crop 1st ratoon crop
Drying-off period (day)
Mean
Drying-off period (day)
Mean
15 30 45 60 15 30 45 60
G.T.54-9 5.867 6.166 6.024 5.563 5.905 5.557 5.860 5.757 5.360 5.634
G.84-47 5.461 5.691 5.584 5.236 5.493 5.424 5.703 5.670 5.376 5.543
G.2003-47 6.094 6.398 6.117 5.792 6.100 5.910 6.207 5.953 5.710 5.945
G.99-103 6.003 6.188 5.916 5.417 5.881 5.847 6.075 5.806 5.396 5.781
Cu. 57-14 5.352 5.485 5.285 4.962 5.271 5.286 5.475 5.235 5.016 5.253
Mean 5.755 5.986 5.785 5.394 5.605 5.864 5.684 5.372
LSD at 0.05 level for:
Drying-off periods (A) 0.200 0.162
Sugar cane varieties (B) 0.210 0.162
A x B 0.421 0.324
Data in the same table disclose that sugarcane varieties varied
significantly in sugar yield in both seasons. Sugarcane G.2003-47 variety
recorded the highest value of this trait in the plant cane crop without
statistical variance with that recorded by G.T.54-9, in the 1st season.
Meanwhile, G.2003-47 grown as a plant cane crop recorded 0.195, 0.607,
0.219 and 0.829 ton of sugar higher than that given by G.T.54-9, G.84-47,
G.99-103 and C.57-14, respectively, in the first ratoon crop. Likewise, it
produced 0.311, 0.402. 0.164 and 0.692 ton, successively as compared with
the same varieties, grown as first ratoon cane crop. The superiority of
G.2003-47 cane variety can be attributed to the highest and distinguished
value of sugar recover% recorded by this variety, in comparison to the other
tested ones (Table 6). The variability among the evaluated cane varieties
was also reported by El-Geddawy, et. al. (2002); El-Shafai and Ismail
(2006); Abazied (2018) and Gadallah and Mehareb (2020).
Sugar yield, extracted from the plant cane or 1st ratoon crop was
markedly affected by the interaction between the two studied factors.
Significant reduction was recorded in sugar yield gained from G.T.54-9
Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 36 (1) 2021 11
and G.99-103 varieties, when fasting period was prolonged for 45 to 60
days before harvesting, without significant variance between these
irrigations cutting-off periods in their effect on sugar yield produced by
the other tested varieties, in plant and ratoon cane crops. Generally, the
highest sugar yield (6.398 and 6.207) was recorded by harvesting G.
2003-47 after 30 days drying-off. In 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Drying-off of sugarcane crop after attaining full growth has led to
an improvement in its quality traits and sugar yields, while cane and
sugar yields are negatively affected by extending fasting period.
Under the conditions of the present work, on Kom Ombo region,
irrigation of sugarcane crop should be withheld for 30 days before
harvesting in in March to obtain maximum sugar yield per faddan.
Further study is required to find out the appropriate fasting period
preceding later harvesting of sugarcane.
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تأثير فت رة الفطام عمى حاصل وجودة بعض أصناف قصب السکر
) سکينة رمضان أبازيد( 1) و عصام حنفى سيد المبودى) 2
1( قسم بحوث تکنولوجيا المحاصيل السکر و ) 2( قسم بحوث المعاملات الز ا رعية )
معهد بحوث المحاصيل السکرية - مرکز البحوث الز ا رعية - مصر
2102 )قصب غرس( / تم إج ا رء هذا العمل البحثى خلال موسمى 2102
2121 )قصب خمفة أولى( بمزرعة محطة البحوث الز ا رعية بکوم أمبو )دائرة عرض / و 2102
24,28 شمال ا و خط طول 57,32 شرقاا ، عمى إرتفاع 012 مت اا ر فوق سطح البحر( بمحافظة
51 و 01 يوماا قبل الحصاد( ، 01 ، أسوان لمعرفة الفترة المثمى لفطام قصب السکر ) 01
، 54- 54 ، جيزة 2110 - 2 ، جيزة 25 - لخمسة أصناف من قصب السکر )جيزة-تايوان 15
05 (. اس ت خ د م تصميم قطاعات کاممة العشوائية فى ترتيب الش ا رئح - 010 و کوبا 14 - جيزة 22
المتعامدة فى ثلاث مکر ا رت.
أظهرت النتائج أن جميع الصفات محل الد ا رسة قد تأثرت معنوياا بفترة الفطام قبل
الحصاد – کما تباينت الأصناف ال م ختبرة فى تمک الصفات فى القصب الغرس والخمفة الولى.
أدى فطام القصب لمدة ثلاثون يوم اا إلى الحصول عمى أعمى القيم لمنسبة المئ وية لک ل من
السکروز ، النقاوة ، الحلاوة وناتج السکر النظرى بالإضافة إلى حاصل السکر لمفدان - فى حين
14 Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 36 (1) 2021
تم التحصل عمى أعمى قيم لوزن العيدان القابمة لمعصر وحاصل القصب لمفدان بفطام القصب
لمدة خمسة عشر يوماا.
54 تفوقاا عمى بقية الأصناف فى النسبة المئ وية - أظهر الصنف المبشر جيزة 2110
لمسکروز ، النقاوة ، الحلاوة وناتج السکر النظرى ، بالإضافة إلى حاصل السکر لمفدان - فى
010 فى وزن العيدان الصالحة لمعصر وحاصل القصب - حين تفوق الصنف المبشر جيزة 22
النظيف لمفدان.
تحت ظروف منطقة کوم امبو ، يمکن التوصية بمنع رى )فطام( القصب لمدة ثلاثين
يوماا قبل الحصاد فى شهر مارس.
Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 36 (1) 2021 15
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