Knowledge of sugarcane physiology and climate-crop-soil interactions : SRDC final report

Abstract

Compared to other crops, knowledge of growth mechanisms in sugarcane is inadequate. The question arises as to how much longer can we continue to prosper from sugarcane if knowledge of the growth processes on which our industry depends, remains outdated? Sucrose accumulation and efficient use of resources are primary concerns for this industry. To date we have only limited understanding of climate and management links to sucrose content or CCS and this undermines our ability to manage water, nutrients, varieties and the harvest schedule for maximum CCS and optimum cane yield. Cane and sucrose yields are often below potential for reasons about which we can only speculate (Leslie and Byth, 2000). In the past, research funds have been directed at opportunities for raising limitations to yield and efficiency of resource use at the gene and enzyme level as well as at the crop and paddock level. There has been no attempt to integrate research or information across these disciplines or to assess where progress toward sustainable production is most likely to be achieved. SRDC recognized that it was now time for each discipline interested in the same processes to get together to find out how their different approaches could be complementary. SRDC also recognised the need to review past data relating to crop growth in the later stages of crop development to see if something could be done about under performing crops during this stage.