Year : 1993-94

This experiment was laid down in February 1993 to assess the yield and quality parameters of mid-late varieties namely, Co 8011, Co 8014, Co 85246, Co 7805 and Co 7219. This experiment was laid down in Randomised Block Design with three replications. The juice quality of the these varieties recorded at 10th, 12th and 14th months of their crop age. Yield attributes and yield were taken at harvest (14th months). The details of the different parameters observed are as explained below.

(a) Yield and yield attributes:

i) Number of internodes:

The number of internodes were differed significantly. Co 8011 recorded significantly higher number of internodes (30.87) over Co 85246, Co 7805 and Co 8014 which gave 21.53, 22.07 and 22.03 respectively. But Co 7219 and Co 85246 were found on par with each other with respect to number of internodes. However Co 7219 (30.60) gave significantly higher number of internodes over Co 8014, Co 7805 and Co 85246 which recorded 25.03, 22.07 and 21.53 respectively. Co 8014 and Co 7805 showed non-significant results but Co 8014 gave significantly higher number of internodes over Co 85246.

ii) Number of millable canes ('ooo ha-1)

Co 7219 recorded (108.64) significantly higher N.M.C over Co 7805, Co 8011, Co 85246 and Co 8014 which gave 96.79, 96.65, 94.20 and 91.28 respectively. However Co 7805, Co 8011, Co 85246 and Co 8014 were found an par with each other with respect to N.M.C.

iii) Plant height (cm)

Plant height did not differed significantly. However Co 8014 recorded highest plant height (286.67) and lowest being Co 85246 (232.67).

iv) Mean cane weight (Kg)

All the varieties shown non significant results with respect to mean cane weight Co 85246 and Co 8011 recorded highest mean cane weight i.e. 1.32 Kg each and the lowest mean cane weight observed in Co 7219 (1.105 Kg).

v) Yield (MT ha-1)

Sugarcane yield shown non significant results for all these varieties however numerically highest cane yield was recorded in Co 85246 (114.02 MT/ha) and lowest in Co 8014 (104.89 MT/ha).

vi) C.C.S. Percentage

C.C.S percentage shown significant result. Co 85246 and Co 7219 were found on par giving 14.79 and 14.53 respectively but both these varieties gave significantly higher C.C.S percentage over Co 8014, Co 8011 and Co 7805. All these later three varieties recorded non-significant results with respect to C.C.S percentage which recorded 14.08, 13.87 and 13.79 percentage respectively.

(b) Juice quality:

i) Brix percentage

Brix percentage at 10th month of crop age shown non-significant result however Co 8014 recorded numerically higher brix percentage (20.66) and lowest found in Co 8011 (18.83). At 12th months of crop age Co 85246 recorded significantly higher brix values (24.00) over Co 7805, Co 7219, Co 8011, Co 8014 which gave 22.00, 21.80, 21.00 and 20.93 respectively. All these later four varieties were found on par with each other. Co 85246 recorded significantly higher brix value (22.27) when compared to Co 7805, Co 8014, Co 8011 which gave 20.94, 20.54 and 20.50 respectively except Co 7219 (21.57) which found on par with Co 85246. But Co 7805, Co 8014 and Co 8011 were found on par with each other.

ii) Pol percentage

Pol percent was recorded highest in Co 8014, (18.75) and lowest in Co 8011(16.30) at 10th month of crop age however these results were non-significant. Pol percentage at 12th month Co 85246 gave significantly higher (22.64) when compared to Co 7219, Co 7805, Co 8014 and Co 8011 which gave 20.67, 20.47, 19.95 and 19.20 respectively. At this crop age Co 7219, Co 7805 and Co 8014 were found on par each other. However Co 7219 differed significantly superior over Co 8011. But Co 7805 differ significantly superior over Co 8011 but on par with Co 8014. At 14th months of crop age Co 85246 and Co 7219 were found on par (20.26 and 19.90 respectively) but both these varieties recorded significantly superior pol values than Co 8014, Co 8011 and Co 7805 which gave 19.29, 18.99 and 18.89 percent respectively. But these later varieties not differed significantly.

iii) Reducing sugar percentage

Reducing sugar percentage of all five varieties at 10th, 12th and 14th months shown non-significant. Results however at 10th month numerically highest (0.725) and lowest (0.357) was observed in Co 8011 and Co 85246 respectively. At 12th months crop age Co 8011 (1.022) recorded highest and Co 7219 (0.509) recorded lowest. At 14th months Co 8014 shown highest reducing sugars (0.936) and lowest being Co 7219 (0.756).

iv) Fibre percentage

At 10th months of crop age Co 85246, Co 7805 and Co 8014 were found on par with each other. However significantly Co 85246 (13.20) and Co 7805 (13.03) recorded higher fibre percentage than Co 8011 (12.70) and Co 7219 (12.03) at the same months of crop age Co 7219 gave significantly higher fibre percentage over Co 8011. At 12th months Co 85246, Co 7219 and Co 7805 were shown on par each other however Co 85246 and Co 7219 were differed significantly over (14.38 and 14.37 respectively) Co 7805 and Co 8014 were found on par and gave significantly higher fibre percentage over Co 8011. At 14th months of crop age Co 85246 (14.62), Co 7805 (14.57) and Co 8014 (14.20) differed significantly over Co 7219 and Co 8011 which gave 13.73 and 13.68 respectively. However lCo 7219 and Co 8011 shwon on par results.

v) Moisture percentage

Moisture percentage of all five varieties shown non-significant result at 10th and 14th months. At 10th highest and lowest percentage of moisture noticed in Co 8014 (75.67) and Co 7219 (73.67) respectively. At 14th highest was in Co 7219 (70.00) and lowest in Co 85246 (67.33). At 12th months of crop age Co 7805, Co 7219, Co 8014 were found on par however Co 7805 (69.67) and Co 7219 (69.67) gave significantly higher moisture over Co 8011 (68.67) and Co 85246 (68.33). It is also observed that Co 8011 and Co 85246 were found on par.

Conclusion

From the above experimental results it can be concluded that Co 85246 recorded highest percentage C.C.S. (14.79) and then followed Co 7219 (14.53). Since Co 85246 and Co 7219 were recorded significantly higher C.C.S. Percentage values over Co 8011, Co 7805 and Co 8014. Although the yield levels of all five varieties produced non-significant results but by the virtue of higher pol percentage content at 14th months Co 85246 and Co 7219 recorded higher C.C.S. Percentage values. Therefore, amongst the mid-late varieties it is Co 85246 and Co 7219 are better performers than the existing ruling mid-late varieties like. Co 8011 and Co 8014. Hence these two ruling varieties can be replaced by Co 85246 and Co 7219 as they are not found significantly inferior with respect to yield parameters like mean cane weight, N.M.C and yield per hector which is the major objective of the farmer also. In view of continuation of Co 8011 and Co 8014 as mid-late varieties in the area, for long period. Replacing these two varieties i.e Co 85246 and Co 7219 will definitely take the recovery curve to the higher side without having any deterimental effect on yield attributes and yield levels per unit area and time.

Table No. 1a Table showing yield and yield attributes of mid-late varieties : Season 1993-94.

Table No. 1b. Table showing quality parameters of mid-late varieties at 10th, 12th and 14th months of their crop age : 1993-94.