CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is one of the most important crops

in the world because of its strategic position in the search for renewable

and cleaner energy sources (Adereti el ta., 2014) and its immerse uses in

the daily life of a nation as well as for industrial uses aimed at nutritional

and economic sustenance (Girei and Giroh, 2012).

The production of sugarcane in Nigeria in still far below the world

average and some factors responsible for the declining sugarcane yield;

lack of high yielding planting material and poor management practice,

those factors necessitates the evaluation and experimentation of new

sugarcane accessions so as to proffer solution to tower yield of sugarcane

production in Nigeria.

High yield of sugarcane crop is dependent on many factors which include

stalk population. Sugarcane stalks contributes to cane weight at harvest,

it’s a key component that determines yields (Roach, 1976) and its

dependant on the number of cane setts planted (Kakde, 1985) and also

proper plant arrangement that influences early crop establishment and

rapid growth. The amount of setts required for planting a unit area

depends on the way the cane setts arranged in the furrow at planting.

1
Sugarcane produces maximally at optimal population because high

density planting encourages intra-specific competition (Das, 2011)

thereby regulating pant stands. Shimabuku (1997) reported high density

planting method resulted to higher productivity at early stage but yield

was low due to excessive leaf area and greater number of stalks.

Overlapping of cane stalks in furrow is the common practice among

sugarcane growers (Verma, 2004). Large quantity of seed material is

usually required for overlapping cane planting methed, it’s been assumed

to reduce germination failure. Verma (2004) reported that overlapping

method of propagation requires large quantity of planting materials to

cover a unit area. High production cost is incurred on seed cane material

in high density planting. Similarly, low density planting minimize

planting material required per unit area. An experimental result conducted

by Rasker and Bhoi (2003) showed that cane girth, number of millable

canes per clump and average cane weight were significantly higher at the

intra-row spacing of 90cm rather than at the intra-row spacing of 30cm

and 60cm

The inadequate yields of sugarcane had compelled both the farmers and

the Researchers to look inward for the exploitation of high yields

available plant materials for maintaining the production efficiency in

2
sugar industry an attempt to stimulate viable sugarcane production in

term of growth and reproduction using some selected plant material. This

study was designed to evaluate agronomic characteristics of selected

NCRP-Sc sugarcane progenies in a southern Guinea savanna conditions.

3
 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review

2.1 Origin of Sugarcane

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is indigenous to tropical

south-east Asia. Deffrent species likely originated in different location

with saccharum barberi originated in india and saccharum edule and

saccharum officinarum coming from new guinea (Peter, 1998) and

(S.I.U, 2012). Approximately 70% of sugar produced globally comes

from saccharum officinarum and hybrid using this species (RBG, 2004).

It is theorized that sugarcane was first domesticated as crop in newguinea

around 6000 BC crystallized sugar was reported 5000 years before the

present in the indus valley civilization located in modern-day Pakistan

and north india. Around the eight century AD Arabs trades introduce

sugarcane from south Asia to the other part of the abbasid caliphate in the

Mediterranean Mesopotamia, Egypt, North Africa and Andalusia. By the

10th century sources state that there was no village in Mesopotamia that

did not grow sugarcane, Watson, (2004).

4
2.2 Botany and Taxonomy of sugarcane

Sugarcane is six to thirty seventh species (depending on the

taxonomic system used) of all parennia tree, a grass family (poacea),

kingdom south Asia. They have stout jointed fibrous stalk that are rich in

sugar and measure (6 to 19 feet) tall. All sugarcane later breed and the

major cultivars are complex hybrids. Sugarcane is an economically

important seed plant family that include maize, rice, wheat, sorghyum,

and many forage crops, (FAO, 2010). Sugarcane forms lateral shoot at the

base to produce multiple stem typically three to four metres high and

about 5cm in diameter, the stem grown Into cane stalk, which when

mature constitute approximately 75% of the entire plant. A native stalk is

typically composed of 11-16% fibre, 12-16% soluble sugar, 2-3% non-

soluble sugar and 63-73% water (Rena, 1997). The main product of

sugarcane is sucrose which accumulated in the stalk internodes, sucrose

extracted and purified in a specialized mill factories, is used as raw-

material in human food industries or is fermented to produce ethanol.

Ethanol is produced on a large scale by Brazilian sugarcane industry

(FAO, 2010).

5
2.3 Distribution of sugarcane

Sugarcane is cultivated in more than 20 million hectares in tropical and

subtropical regions of the world, producing up to 1.3 billion metric tons

of crushable stems. It has served as a source of sugar since hundreds of

years, represents an important renewable biofuel source, which could turn

into a global commodity and important energy source (Pandey et al.,

2000). It is generally used to produce sugar, accounting for almost two

thirds of the world’s production and has lately gained increased attention

because of ethanol which is derived from cane. Sugarcane bagasse (the

major waste product generated by sugar mills after extraction of the

sucrose from cane juice) is largely used for energy cogeneration at the

mill or for the production of animal feed increasing the overall efficiency

of the crop system. Recently, there has been increased interest in using

bagasse for processes such as paper production, as a dietary fiber in

bread, as a wood substitute in the production of wood composite, and in

the synthesis of carbon fibers (Sangnark and Noomhorm, 2004). It is

expected that enzymatic and hydrolytic processes that allow the bagasse

carbon units from cellulose and hemicelluloses to be fermented, will soon

be scaled up for ethanol production, turning sugarcane into an efficient

6
crop for energy production as well (Paiva et al., 2004; Han and Wu,

2004).

Sugarcane cultivation requires a tropical or temperate climate, with a

minimum of 60 centimeters (2 inch) of annual moisture, it is one of the

most efficient photosynthesizers in the plant kingdom. It is a C-4 plant,

able to convert up to 2 percent of incident solar energy into biomass. In

prime growing regions, such as India, Pakistan, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia,

Colombia, Australia, Ecuador, Cuba, Philippines and Hawaii, sugarcane

can produce 20 lb (9 kg) for each square meter exposed to the sun.

Although sugarcanes produce seeds, modern commercial sugarcane

cultivation relies on vegetative propagation through stem cuttings which

has become the most common reproduction method.

2.4 Production of sugarcane

Sugarcane area and productivity differ widely from country to

country. Today, sugarcane is grown in over 110 countries. In 2009, an

estimated 1,683 million metric tons were produced worldwide which

amounts to 22.4% of the total world agricultural production by weight.

About 50 percent of production occurs in Brazil and India. Brazil has the

highest area (5.343 million ha), while Australia has the highest

productivity (85.1 tons per ha. Out of the total white crystal sugar

7
production, approximately 70% comes from sugarcane and 30% from

sugar beet. India ranks second in the world, after Brazil, in terms of

sugarcane growing area (4.1 million ha) and production (348 million Mt)

(FAO, 2009). Sugar industry is second largest in our country in the agro-

processing sector worth $6.8 billion and over 45 million farmers are

involved in sugarcane cultivation and about 7.5% rural population

directly or indirectly is dependent on the sugar industry (IISR, 2007).

However, the production potential is substantially higher in tropical and

sub-tropical regions compared to rest of the globe (Pranna and Pattar,

2014). Nigeria is one of the most important producers of the crop with a

land potential of over 500,000 hectares of suitable cane field capable of

producing over 3.0 million metric tons of sugarcane. If processed, it yield

about 3.0 million metric tons of sugar (NSDC, 2003).

In most countries where sugarcane is cultivated, there are several foods,

drinks and popular dishes derived directly from it under different local

names such as syrup, ganne ka rass, guarab, sayur nganten, cachaça, rum,

falernum, jaggery, panela, molasses, rapadura, rock candy etc.

2.4.1 Weed control of sugarcane

Weeds infestation in sugarcane ratoon crop is entirely different and is a

specific problem when com-pared with any other crop. In sugarcane,

8
weeds have been estimated to cause yield losses from 10% to total crop

failure depending upon composition, diversity of weeds and duration of

competition (Mehra et al, 1990; Srivasatva and Chauhan 2002). This fact

can be un-derstood by specific reasons like establishment of weeds in

plant crop as eradication of weeds from plant crop is not possible at

affordable cost, wider row spac-ing (60-120 cm), slow initial growth (90-

120 days), heavy fertilization and frequent irrigations. All these factors

are responsible for weed infestation which in turn offers a great

competition for crop growth in terms of space and inputs.

The efficiency of some of the recommended herbicides for weed control

is for a lesser duration (may be between 7-8 weeks after application)

which are not able to control weeds up to canopy formation stage. This

has made to supplement the herbicides with either hand weeding or

application of post-emergence herbicide, which is adding of another cost

to crop production. If not controlled timely, the weeds at later stages

become almost impossible to control either through chemical or

mechanical methods resulting poor crop growth and losses in cane yield.

To realize the main advantage of ratoon ability of sugarcane, timely weed

management is one of the most important factor otherwise there are

chances of great loss to farmers from ratoon crop in terms of time and

money. Since the work done on weed management in ratoon crop is very
9
limited, the experiment was conducted to find out the efficacy of different

herbicides on weeds asso-ciated with ratoon crop of sugarcane (Rajender

et al, 2014).

2.4.2 Soil condition of sugarcane

Over the years, soil degradation has become one of the most

important problems in agriculture. Erosion, salinization, compaction and

loss of organic matter are the principal form of soil degradation

(Muhieldeen, 2014). Soil compaction is a general problem and a main

reason that reduces the 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 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 of 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 in which

10
subsoiler with different shapes are used 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 best 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 effect of two type different subsoiler has been evaluated in

reduction of bulk density and changing of cane yield and cane juice

quality.

2.4.3 Disease and Pest control of sugarcane

Million tones (MINFAL, 2008-09) In spite of all major efforts rendered

by relevant agencies the cane yield in the Province has not yet reached to

the level as expected. One important reason for such low yield is the

failure of ratoon crop. This yield decrease in ratoon crop of sugarcane is a

significant problem worldwide. Yield decline of monoculture sugarcane

11
in Taiwan is closely related to insect injury, soil borne pathogens, poor

germination and stunted growth of ratoon cane (Min-Muh Kao et al.,

1989). The imbalance of soil fungi could lead to the predominance of

Fusarium oxysporum and Xylaria hypoxilon, producers of phytotoxic

substances, which might be responsible for the poor growth of sugarcane.

Insects and the fungi affect tissue in a ratio of 1:16 causing sucrose

inversion as 7 and 95% in cane ratoon crop. The sucrose inversion due to

the fungi represented 93% of the total damage and the remaining 7%

were due to direct damage caused by insect (Nakano et al., 1998).

Filter cake was found valuable and comparatively an economical

source of macronutrients to sugarcane ratoon additionally providing

micro elements, 32% organic matter and 6% sulphur which would

ameliorate and maintain soil health (Abdul Razzaq, 2001). In India, trash

mulching has been found to have improved ratooning in sugarcane. Trash

removal and stubble shaving recorded an increased cane and sugar yield

as compared to trash removal and no stubble shaving (Nasir &

Giridharan, 2000). The objective of the present research was to improve

ratoonability of sugarcane crop using IDM approach.

2.5 Problem of the production of sugarcane

An environmental factor that limits crop productivity or destroys biomass

12
is referred to as stress or disturbance (Grime, 1979). Abiotic stress is the

primary cause of crop loss worldwide, reducing average yields for most

major crop plants by more than 50%. Low temperature, drought, and high

salinity are common stress conditions that adversely affect plant growth

and crop production (Xiong et al., 2002). Among the abiotic factors that

have shaped and continue shaping plant evolution, water availability is

the most important, while light is the best studied environmental factor in

plant research with respect to molecular details. The quality and quantity

of light that affects photosynthesis and growth of plants is well studied by

many researches (Grover et al., 2001). Water stress in its broadest sense

encompasses both drought and salt stress. Drought and salinity are

becoming particularly widespread in many regions, and may cause

serious salinization of more than 50% of all arable lands by the year 2050

(Bray et al., 2000; Lee et al., 2009).

Salinity in soil or water is one of the major stresses, especially in arid and

semi-arid regions, severely limiting crop production (Shannon, 1998).

The remarkable ability of plants to adapt different adverse environments

is a fascinating process. The cellular and molecular responses of plants to

environmental stress have been studied intensively (Hasegawa et al.,

2000). Research into the physiology and metabolism of so-called

extremophiles has not only foster better understanding of the evolutionary

13
processes that have created the diversity of life as it exists on earth, but

also has economic implications for agricultural biotechnology and the

development of novel products. On the other hand, sugarcane production

is expected to reduce by 30% in the future due to climate change, as

revealed in a recent four-year study conducted by the World Bank (SRI,

2008). The capacity to sequence genomes and the availability of novel

molecular tools have now catapulted biological research into eras of

genomics and post-genomics, creating an opportunity to apply genomic

techniques to extremophile models (Amtmann et al., 2005), which is a

dire need of time to feed the increasing global population through

significant increase in agricultural production.

14
 CHAPTER THREE

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Site Description

A field experiment was carried out at the University of Ilorin

Teaching and Research Farm in the southern Guinea savanna agro-

ecological zone in Nigeria (9˚20¹ N, 4˚25¹ E) during the 2014-2015

cropping seasons. The vegetation cover of the land was made up of

Digiteria horizontalis, Cynodon dactylon, Euphorbia heterophylla,

Tridax procumben, Euphorbia hirta, Eleusine indica and Cleome

viscosa.

3.2 Experimental Design and Field Layout

The experiment was designed as a sample randomized complete

block (RCBD) and replicated three (3) times. The treatment consists

of 10 NCRP-sc selected sugarcane progenies (B47419, B96812, BD2001-

036, BD2001-046, BD2001-048, BO1245, DTS44, DTS44-33, DTS45,

and DTS51).

15
3.3 Field Establishment and Experimental PROCEDURE

Prior to the experiment, the land was mechanically ploughed,

harrowed and ridged. The total area of land covered was measured at

1350m2 (0.135ha) of 3 replications having 10 plots per block at a spacing

of 5m by 1.5m per plot of four rows (30m2).

3.4 Data Collections

The following data were taken to determine the growth parameters and

cane yield at harvest.

3.4.1 Growth Parameters

3.4.1.1 Stalk Length

The stalks length was taken from three stalks which were

randomly selected and measured in (cm) with the use of linear tape and

the mean was calculated and recorded.

3.4.1.2 Leaf Area

The leaf area was taken through the leaf length and leaf width in

(cm) from three stalks which were randomly selected and measured with

the use if linear tape. The leaf length and leaf width mean was calculated

16
and the multiplication of the both mean calculated to determine the leaf

area and recorded.

3.4.1.3 Stalk Girth

The stalks girth was taken from three stalks randomly selected in

diameter with the use of vennier caliper and the mean was calculated and

recorded.

3.4.2 Yield Parameters

3.4.2.1 Malliable Canes

The number of milliable canes were counted per plot immediately

during harvesting and recorded.

3.4.2.2 Total Soluble Sucrose

The total soluble sucrose (TSS) was taken from three stalks which

were randomly selected with the use of spectrometer and the mean was

calculated and recorded. This action was carried out in the month of

August, September, October, November and at harvest.

3.4.2.2 Cane Weight

The cane weight per plot was carried out by measuring it on the

weighing balance in (kg) and later converted to tones and recorded.

17
3.4.3 Statistical Analysis

The various data that has being taken were subjected to analysis of

variance (ANOVA) using SPSS Discovery Edition and significant means

were separated using SED at ≤0.05. The cane yield was correlated against

the growth and yield components using the procedure of steel and torrie

(1980).

3.5 Regression Analysis

Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate the relationship

between the cane yields with yield components.

Y= f(X1, X2)

Yt = β+β1X1t+β2X2t+β3tX21t+β4X22t+β5X1tX2t+………..+eit

Where: Y = Sugarcane yield (tha-1);

β1, β2…...., β8 = Coefficient of variables, X1, X2………, X12, respectively

X1= germination count @ 21DAP, X2 = germination count @ 42DAP, X3

= brix content @ 12MAP, X4 = stalk length, X5 = stalk girth, X6 = stalk

count, X7 = millable stalk/stool, X8 = millable cane, X9 = internode/stalk,

X10 = internode length, X11 = leaf area, X12 = single stalk/weight.

eit = unexpected variables

18
 CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Result
4.1 Summary of annual climate condition for crop cycles and
sugarcane progenies
The result obtained from the summary of annual rainfall for 2014 and

2015 cropping season clearly revealed that there is no sufficient rainfall

for the crop cycles and selected sugarcane progenies in a month to

encourages adequate vegetative growth such as rapid cane growth, cane

elongation and internode formation, but during the ripening period, the

rainfall is desirable because it lead to good juice quality and decrease in

the tissue moisture. And growth is closely related to temperature which

optimum temperature are for sprouting (germination) and stem cutting,

likewise ripening relatively low temperature which noticeable influence

on the reduction of vegetative growth rate and enrichment of

photorespiration thus leading to less accumulation of sugar.

The highest rainfall was recorded in the month of September

(391.60mm), followed by April with 321.40mm while, January had the

least rainfall (6.30mm) during 2014 cropping season. At 2015 cropping

season, high rainfall of 128.80mm was recorded in the month of March,

followed by May with 63.90mm while, January (5mm) was recorded the

least rainfall and June to December there was no rainfall recorded.

19
The highest temperature was recorded in the month of March (2436ºc),

followed by May with 2333ºc while, December had the least with 2050ºc

during 2014 cropping season. At 2015 cropping season, high temperature

of 2486ºc was recorded in the month of April, followed by February with

2436ºc while, December (1582ºc) was recorded the least.

4.3 Germination count for sugarcane progenies

The analysis of variance shows that there was significance different in

germination count at all the periods of assessment (Figure3). At 21DAP,

high germination count (70 seedlings plots) was obtained in plots planted

with BD2001 – 036 and DTS51, followed by close range DTS44 with 69

seedlings/plot while, BD2001 – 046 had the least germination count (17

seedlings per plot) at 21DAP.

At 42DAP, high germination count of 189 seedlings/ plot was recorded in

plot planted with BD2001 – 036,followed by DT551 with 173 seedling

/plot while, B968812 (43 Seedlings) was recorded the least germination

counts.

4.4 Growth parameter of crop cycles and sugarcane progenies

There was significant different between the plant crop and the ratoon crop

in growth parameter except internode per stalk and millable stalk per

20
stool (Table 1). At cycle level plant crop had the highest stalk length of

289.1cm while, ratoon crop had the least of 152.8cm. The leaf area for

plant crop was also recorded highest number with 606cm2 while, ratoon

crop had the least of 349cm2.

All the cane growth parameters for sugarcane progenies level were not

significantly influenced across the different sugarcane progenies during

the cropping season except for millable stalks/stool and leaf area. DTS51

had the highest number of millable stalks/stool (52) followed by close

range DTS 45 (51) while DTS44 had least (28) millable stalk/stool. The

largest leaf area was obtain in plot planted with B96812 calculated as

600cm2, followed by BD2001-036 (541cm2) while shortest leaf area was

410cm2 obtained from plot planted DTS44.

Figure 4 shows the interaction between crop cycle and sugarcane

progenies for millable stalk per stool as a result of significant different

observed by millable stalk per stool (table2). BD2001 – 036 had the

highest number of interaction with 60, followed by DTS51 (52) while

B96812 had the least number of interaction for plant crop. At ratoon crop

level, B47419 had the highest number of interaction with 55, followed by

DTS51 (52) while BD2001 – 036 and DTS44 had the least number of

interaction with 23.

21
 450

400

350
Amonut of rainfall in (mm)

300

250 201
4
201
200 5

150

100

50

0
Annual rainfall

Figure 1: Effect of rainfall on selected sugarcane progenies in Ilorin

22
 3000

2500
Min-Max reading of temperature in ( ºC)

2000

1500 201
4
201
5

1000

500

0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

annual temperature

Figure 2: Effect of tempareture on selected sugarcane progenies in Ilorin

23
DAP = Days after planting, ** = significant @ 0.01
Figure 3: Establishment of plant crop of selected sugarcane progenies in Ilorin.

24
Table 1: Effect of cropping cycles on the growth parameters of selected
sugarcane progenies in Ilorin

Cycle (C) Stalk Internode Millable Leaf area

length(cm) per stalk stalks/stool (cm2)
Plant crop 289.1 25 45 606
Ratoon crop 152.8 25 45 349
Sed 0.23** 0.607 2.40 46.3*
Entry(E)
B 47419 220.9 25 50 461
B 96812 211.9 28 39 600
BD 2001-036 238.9 25 42 541
BD 2001-046 212.3 27 49 425
BD 2001-048 215.4 24 45 478
BO 1245 231.5 26 48 485
DTS 44 214.7 24 28 410
DTS 44-33 232.2 24 47 528
DTS 45 204.3 24 51 411
DTS 51 227.2 27 52 436
Sed 15.42 1.89 6.54* 53.70**
Interaction
CxE NS NS * NS
* = significant @ 0.05, ** = significant @ 0.01

25
* = significant @ 0.05
Figure 4: Interaction between crop cycle and sugarcane progenies for millable
stalk per stool

26
4.4 Brix content for crop cycles and selected sugar cane

progenies

The refractometer brix reading showed significant different among

the evaluated crops at the period of assessment.

At 9MAP, 10MAP, 11MAP and 12MAP, the brix reading for

ratoon crop had the highest brix level of 18.86, 22.21, 21.88 and

21.45 respectively while plant crop had the least of 11.88, 13.44,

13.76 and 17.55 respectively.

The analysis of variance exhibited for crop cycle are significant at

0.05% SED Level for brix content at all stages during brix

collection (9MAP, 10MAP, 11MAP and 12MAP). Although for

ratoon crop it does not perform below NSDC sugar content

recommendation standard (18%). While plant crop perform below

NSDC standard.

While result of the brix content of the selected sugarcane progenies

where not significantly influenced by all the factors under

evaluation in (table 4) which indicate that B96812 having the best

brix content of 16.55%, followed by B47419 with close range of

16.27% while DTS44-33 had the least of 14.5% at 9MAP. At

27
10MAP, B96812 had the best brix content of 19.12%, followed by

BO1245 of 18.59% while BD2001-036 had the least (15.67%).

DTS44-33 had the best brix content of 18.90%, followed by closed

progeny member DTS45 (18.78%), while DTS44 had the least of

16.46% at 11 MAP. At 12MAP no progenies perform below

NSCD sugar content recommendation standard (18%). B96812 had

the best brix content of 20.39% followed by DTS45 with

close range of 20.31% while BD2001-036 had the least of 18.22%

at this level. There were no significant different at interaction level.

4.5 Influence of cropping cycles on cane yield of selected

sugarcane progenies in Ilorin

All the cane yield parameter and crop yield were significantly

influenced across the crop cycles. Plant crop has the highest yield

parameter and crop yield at crop cycles, 2.280, 3.51 and 70.1 at

stalk girth, single stalk per weight and crop yield respectively while

ratoon crop had the least of 1.803, 0.42 and 43.6 at stalk girth,

single stalk per weight and crop yield respectively.

At selected sugar cane progeny, all the yield parameter and crop

yield showed significant different except stalk girth and single stalk

per weight. At millable cane, BD2001-036 had the highest number

28
(304.5), followed by close progeny member BD2001-046 with

271.8 while B96812 had the least (93.3). At crop yield, BD2001-

046 had the highest cane yield of 73.8, followed by DTS51 with

71.4 while B96812 has the least cane yield (37.8). There were no

significant different at the interaction level between the crop cycles

and selected sugar cane progenies.

29
Table 2: Total soluble sucrose of selected sugarcane progenies in Ilorin

Cycle (C) 9MAP 10MAP 11MAP 12MAP

Plant crop 11.88 13.44 13.76 17.55
Ratoon crop 18.86 22.21 21.88 21.45
Sed 0.785** 0.979** 1.395* 0.454**
Entry (E)
B 47419 16.27 18.35 17.74 19.48
B 96812 16.55 19.12 16.98 20.39
BD 2001-036 14.75 15.67 18.05 18.22
BD 2001-046 15.15 16.01 18.32 17.81
BD 2001-048 15.62 18.52 17.61 20.24
BO 1245 15.32 18.59 18.43 19.13
DTS 44 15.12 18.25 16.46 20.24
DTS 44-33 14.51 18.19 18.90 19.13
DTS 45 15.35 18.37 18.78 20.31
DTS 51 15.07 17.17 16.95 19.45
Sed 0.872 1.139 1.479 1.188
Interaction
CxE NS NS NS NS
* = significant @ 0.05, ** = significant @ 0.01

30
Table 3: Influence of cropping cycles on cane yield of selected sugarcane
progenies in Ilorin

Single stalk
Millable Stalks weight Cane yield
Cycle (C) Stalk girth (cm) (no/plot) (kg/stalk) (tha-1)
Plant crop 2.280 216 3.51 70.10
Ratoon crop 1.803 224 0.42 43.60
Sed 0.1034* 12.10 0.486* 6.29*
Entry (E)
B 47419 2.163 194 2.03 51.00
B 96812 2.142 93 1.69 37.80
BD 2001-036 2.017 305 2.22 63.40
BD 2001-046 1.932 272 1.52 73.80
BD 2001-048 2.072 211 1.74 45.50
BO 1245 2.250 208 2.57 66.60
DTS 44 1.967 195 1.90 50.10
DTS 44-33 1.777 252 1.85 62.80
DTS 45 2.013 212 1.84 46.10
DTS 51 2.083 255 2.27 71.40
Sed 0.2283 40.14** 0.541NS 7.83**
Interaction
CxE
Sed NS NS NS NS
* = significant @ 0.05, ** = significant @ 0.01

4.6 The impacts of yield component on cane yield of

selected sugarcane progenies in Ilorin.

The estimation result from table 6 reveals that the explanatory

variables jointly account for approximately 67.7% cane yield in

31
selected sugarcane progenies evaluated. The remaining 32.3% due

to other variable outside the regression model that also affect cane

yield. The Durbin-Watson statistics illustrate (1.775) absence of

auto correlation and coincidentally, the goodness of fit for the

regression remained low as indicated by the adjusted R2 of 59.4%

The result also shows that stalk length, stalk girth, millable cane

and single stalk per weight were statistically significant in

explaining selected sugar cane progenies production as a result of

cane yield. All the above variables had positive significant

influence on cane yield except single stalk per weight. This implies

that a unit increase in amount of stalk length, stalk girth, millable

cane will increase the cane yield by 24%, 12% and 8%

respectively.

All the variables evaluated were correlated positively with cane

yield at correlation level. The stalk length had 61.3% correlation

with sugar cane yield, followed by millable cane and stalk girth

with 42.2% and 39% related to cane yield respectively while single

stalk per weight had the least of 34.1% correlation with cane yield.
32
33
Table 4: Relationship between yield components and yield of selected sugarcane progenies

95% Confidence
Variable Coefficien Std. Error t-stat P≤0.05 limit Lower correlation
t Upper
Intercept -18.374 46.123 -0.398 0.692 -111.162 74.414
Germination count at 21 days after planting 0.116 0.260 0.444 0.659 -0.408 0.640 0.513
Germination count at 42 days after planting -0.116 0.092 -1.265 0.212 -0.301 0.069 0.446
Brix content at 12 month after planting -1.971 1.085 -1.817 0.076 -4.153 0.211 -0.459
Stalk length 0.243 0.064 3.773 0.000 0.114 0.373 0.613
Stalk girth 12.416 5.042 2.463 0.018 2.273 22.560 0.390
Stalk count 0.518 0.364 1.423 0.161 -0.214 1.250 0.167
Millable stalk per stool 0.176 0.161 1.095 0.279 -0.148 0.500 0.200
Millable cane 0.085 0.025 3.401 0.001 0.035 0.135 0.422
Internode per stalk -0.416 0.618 -0.673 0.505 -1.659 0.828 -0.121
Internode length 0.988 1.496 0.660 0.512 -2.022 3.998 0.183
Leaf area 0.010 0.018 0.522 0.604 -0.027 0.047 0.447
Single stalk per weight -5.890 2.123 -2.775 0.008 -10.160 -1.619 0.341
R= 0.823, R2= 0.677, Adj. R2= 0.594, SE= 14.67073, Durbin-Watson= 1.77

34
 CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Discussion

The results of the mean obtained from yield and other agronomic traits

observed in this study clearly revealed that there is sufficient quantitative

variability among the 10 selected NCRP-Sc sugarcane progenies. This

can be used as criteria for selecting sugarcane progeny with the best

agronomic option as selected progenies were noted for their performance

among each other in germination count at 21DAP, BD2001-036 and

DTS51 was recorded the best and maintained best position throughout the

germination count.

Data collected shown a marginal variability in germination count at all

period of observation, thereby significant different from one another. This

performance was correspondently transferred to a significant different

among the progenies at table 3 (interaction between crop cycles and

sugarcane progenies at millable stalk per stool) except for BD2001-36

that don’t retain it position at ratooning level but replaced by B47419.

Brix also refer to as total soluble sucrose (TSS) sugarcane is generally

tends to low in TSS with high yield progenies which actually correspond

35
with the rules, low in TSS and at the same time high growth and yield

parameters as shown in table 2 and 5.

The best performance of the 10 selected NCRP-sc sugarcane progenies

was observed in plant crop based on growth and yield parameters from

the crop cycles except for internode per stalk and millable stalk per stool

at growth parameter, this performance was correspondently transferred to

a significant different within the crop at yield and yield component.

BD2001-046 and DTS51 had the best yield throughout the crop cycle, in

which BD2001-046 had the best for plant crop, followed DTS51 and the

reverse was the case, were DTS51 had the best, and followed BD2001-

046 at ratoon crop.

Correlation among phenotypic traits may reflect biological processes that

are of considerable evolutionary interest, correlation can be the result of

genetic, functional and physiological or development characters (Wagner

and Schwenh, 200) coefficient of correlation of yield component with

cane yield in table 6 show that stalk length, stalk girth and millable cane

were positively and highly significant except single stalk per weight

which was negatively and highly significant whereas 21DAP, stalk count,

millable stalk per stool, internode length and leaf area were positively and

not significant except 42DAP, 12MAP and internode per stalk which

36
were negatively and not significant. Showing that as increase in the

significant traits resulted in correspondently increase in cane yield.

Mahmood et.al (1990), Ramdoyal (1999).

Variation in yield of varieties within crops was associated with variation

in yield and other agronomic traits observed in this study, whereas the

ratoonability of individual varieties across crops was associated more

with yield and other agronomic traits observed. The decline in yield of

ratoons was, therefor, mostly attributable to an associated decline in other

agronomic traits observed, which manifested itself as reduced yield.

The varieties with better ratoonability possessed the following

characteristics at a high level, stalk length, stalk girth, millable cane, stalk

count, millable stalk per stool and internode length.

Selection for these characteristics has obviously occurred in the search for

higher yields, since the more recent releases among the test varieties had

the better ratoonability. However, the highlighted characteristics need to

be studied on a wider range of genotypes, shorter and over longer ratoon

cycles than in this study, in order to confirm their validity as selection

criteria. Thus, progenies with even wider adaptation or higer tolerance to

extremes in the agronomic traits observed are needed to improve general

ratoonabilty.

37
5.1 Conclusion and Recommendation

BD2001-046 and DTS51 were observed having the overall best

performance of cane yield compared to the national check B47419. Stalk

length, stalk girth, millable cane and single stalk per weight were

observed to be the agronomic traits that contribute significantly to cane

yield. The performance of the progenies decreased during the 1 st ratoon

year.

It is therefore recommended that, the selected sugarcane progenies should

be further evaluated across other ecologies with the variables that showed

positively and highly significant correlation to cane yield to ascertain the

performance.

38
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