Comparison of growth responses to soil moisture content between two sugarcane [Saccharum officinarum] varieties differing in regional adaptability: Comparison between NCo310 and Ni1

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Crop Science Vol. 70; no. 2; pp. 202 - 208
• Main Authors: Sumi, A. (Kagoshima Univ. (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture), Hayashi, M, Katayama, T.C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese; English
• Published: CROP SCIENCE SOCIETY OF JAPAN 01.06.2001
• Subjects: ADAPTABILITY; Drought resistance; Optimum soil moisture content; Plant weight; Regional adaptability; SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM; SOIL WATER CONTENT; Stalk weight; Sugarcane; VARIETIES; Wet endurance
• ISSN: 0011-1848; 1349-0990
• DOI: 10.1626/jcs.70.202

The difference in the growth response to soil moisture content was investigated between two sugarcane cultivars, NCo310 and Nil, differing in regional adaptability. An optimum curvilinear relationship was found between the soil moisture content and dry weight of the plant. No difference in the optimum soil moisture content (f sub(opt)) was found between the two cultivars. The soil moisture content at which growth stops (f sub(0)) was lower in NCo310. The early growth of sugarcanes was extremely inhibited under a soil submerging condition in both cultivars, but in NCo310 such an inhibition was removed gradually with the passage of time. Although the plant weight in f sub(opt) tended to be heavier in NCo3l0 than in Nil, the latter was not inferior to the former in the stalk weight under optimum to sub-optimum soil moisture conditions because the percentage of stem to total dry weight (SP) was higher in the latter. On the other hand, the stalk weight of Nil dropped largely both under submerging and arid conditions because of larger decreases both in plant weight and SP. The characteristics such as lower f sub(0), faster adaptation to soil submerging condition and relatively high stability of SP were judged to support the wide regional adaptability of NCo310.