Abstract

Agronomic traits and quality indices are closely related to patterns of nutrient uptake among different sugarcane varieties. Knowing the optimal nutrient needs of specific varieties could help growers provide adequate fertilizer while avoiding over-fertilization. Field trials on the variations of growth, uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and related quality indices among different new varieties of sugarcane were compared to the widely planted variety ROC 22, which was conducted in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, in southern China. The results showed that the highest germination rate was observed in YT 55, and both the highest tillering rate and both the formative rate of stalk and millable canes were observed in BC 2–32, respectively. YT 55 had the highest cane yield (154.1 t/ha) and sugar yield (20.4 t/ha). The accumulation of N, P and K in YT 55 reached 290.5, 67.9 and 447.5 kg/ha, respectively, which was 1.6, 1.6 and 1.4-fold higher than observed in ROC 22. The nutrient use efficiency of nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium fertilizer (NPK) to produce cane and sugar in ROC 22 and YT 60 was superior among the tested varieties. The differences in cane and sugar yield, and nutrient utilization efficiencies among the investigated varieties point out the need for variety specific nutrient recommendations. This study also confirmed that distinct differences existed in the yield of both cane and sugar produced in different sugarcane varieties if more fertilizers are supplied to sugarcane during the tillering and elongation stage.