The Effect of Ratooning Practices on Cane Yield and Quality Parameters of Sugarcane

ASLAN HASHEMI1, ALI REZA SHOKUHFAR*1 1-Department of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Ahvaz, Iran Author for Correspondence * Corresponding Author Email Address: [e-mail] Received: 10 June 2015                                                                         Accepted: 20 October 2015 ABSTRACT Soil compaction is a main factor that reduces sugarcane yield in Southwest of Iran, especially in ratoon cropping system. Therefore, sub-soiling practices could alleviate adverse effects of compaction and increased yield. In according to this aim, a study was conducted to study the effect of on cane yield. Ratooning practices consist of control (no subsoiler), two and four shanks subsoiler in two content of soil moisture condition, before irrigation and after irrigation. Soil bulk density was measured in two depths of 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm, as an indicator of soil compaction. Sub-soiling with two, and four shanks significantly (p<0.01) reduced soil bulk density. The results were similar in both depths. The practice of compaction improvement was not affected in before or after irrigation. The effect of sub-soiling was not significant on cane height, sheath moisture, leaf nitrogen purity, and refined sugar. Reduction of soil compaction significantly (p<0.05) increased stalk weight, cane and sugar yields. Statistical analysis showed that sub-soiling and irrigation treatments treatments had significant (p<0.01) effect on reduction of fuel consumption.  

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Keywords: Ratooning practice , Subsoiler , Sugarcane , yield , Fuel consumption