EFFECTS OF INTRA-ROW SETT SPACING AND VARIETIES ON YIELD COMPONENTS, YIELD AND QUALITY OF SUGARCANE (Saccharum officinarum L.) AT KESSEM SUGAR ESTATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Sugarcane production affected by numerous factors, which subsequently reduce cane and sugar yield. Among those constraints, planting geometry is the most important one. To solve the problem, regarding intra-row setts spacing, research findings should be taken. However, research outputs concerning this aspect are not available at Kessem Sugar Estate. Therefore, effects of intra-row setts spacing on selected traits were carried out at this Estate with the objective of determining the effects of intra-row setts spacing, varieties, and quality of sugarcane on, yield, and yield components of sugarcane during the growing seasons of 2022/2023. The experiment was conducted randomized complete block design within a factorial arrangement; three sugarcane varieties (B52/298, NCo334, and C86/12) and four intra-row setts spacing (end to end of setts, 10cm, 20cm, and 30cm space between three budded setts) replicated three times. At closer (end-to-end and 10 cm) intra-row spacing, the number of tillers ha-1 , cane forming stalks ha-1 , millable canes ha-1 , number of internodes in cane, cane length, were recorded more than wider setts spacing (20cm and 30cm) and gave a significant difference(p<0.05). However, cane weight and cane girth were higher at the widest sett spacing with significant differences. Moreover, there were significant differences (p<0.05) among varieties for these characters. Intra-row setts spacing had no significant effect on quality characteristics. However, varieties had significant differences (p<0.05) in quality characteristics, and Variety Nco334 had higher Brix % (18.6), pol % (15.93), and sugar recovery % (10.55) than other varieties. The maximum cane yield (151.30, 140, and 129.8 ton ha-1 ), and sugar yield (14.61, 14.5, and 11.97 ton ha-1 ) were recorded in the varieties B52/298, Nco334, and C86/12, respectively. Additionally, there was a significant difference(p<0.05) among spacings on cane and sugar yields, the higher cane(150 ton ha-1 ) and sugar yield(14.76 ton ha-1 ) were recorded from narrow spacing (end to end and 10cm) than, wider spacing(20cm and 30cm). From the results, it recommended that closer intra-row sett spacing be used for high cane and sugar yields at Kessem Sugar Estate, but alternatively, it recommended using 10 cm between setts, without reducing cane and sugar yield