Agro-industrial evaluation of new sugarcane (Saccaharum spp.) hybrids in the dry tropic under no watering conditions

Resumen

Objective: To select new sugarcane (Saccaharum spp.) hybrids with better adaptability and higher field and industrial performance, within the supply area of the Quesería Sugar Mill of the Beta San Miguel group (BSM).

Design/methodology/approach: We set up a group of 11 new hybrids in the agro-industrial phase in order to compare their adaptability and their field and industrial performance, using the Mex 69-290 commercial hybrid as control.

Results: The obtained results indicated that during the soca cycle and under local soil conditions, the ColMex 05-484, ColMex 05-38 (C9), and ColMex 05-627 hybrids produced the highest estimated field yields, with values of 154, 149, and 143 t/ha^-1, respectively. The highest percentages of sucrose in cane (Pol) in 12-month-old plants were observed in the ColMex 05-147 (16.8%), ColMex 08-38 (C8) (16.5%), and ColMex 05-897 (16.1%) hybrids, according to their intermediate stage maturity curve.

Study limitations/implications: The limitations that could affect the results of the research were the abundance of stones on the topsoil and the poor distribution of rainfall during crop development (1,203 mm).

Findings/conclusions: After analyzing the agricultural and industrial performance of several hybrids, we can conclude that ColMex 05-484 was the best, surpassing the Mex 69-290 commercial control.