| Abstract | Plant-density trials were successful in demonstrating the effect of row spacing and withinrow plant spacing on cane yield. Increasing plant density resulted in an increase in cane
yield and stalk numbers at harvest. Cane yield increases almost linearly as row spacing
reduces from 1.5 m to 0.5 m, but there was little change in cane yield as row space
reduced further to 0.125 m. Increasing within-row plant spacing by double and quadruple
the planting rate tended to result in significant, but relatively small, increases in cane yield
in all three row-spacing treatments. Altering row spacing had a larger effect on cane yield
than increasing the within row planting rate. Both trials show the importance of good
establishment regardless of row spacing used. No significant cultivar interaction was
measured for any of the yield attributes measured in the trials. |
