Investigation of the limits to high density planting : SRDC Final report BSS212

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.