Growth and dry matter production in sugarcane varieties grown under full irrigation

Growth analysis is considered as a standard method for measuring the biological productivity of plant species. The objective of this research was to evaluate the growth and dry matter production of eleven sugarcane varieties (SP79-1011, RB813804, RB863129, RB872552, RB943365, RB72454, RB763710, SP78-4764, SP81-3250, RB867515, RB92579), grown under full irrigation, in the planted cane cycle. The experiment was conducted in field conditions in the municipality of Carpina, PE. A randomized block design with four replications was used. The varieties' growth analysis was represented by the quantification of the tillers numbers, stalk height and diameter, measured monthly, in eleven periods of cultivation that extended from 60 to 360 days after planting (DAP). The dry matter production was measured from 120 DAP, with sampling intervals of every two months. It was observed that, at 360 DAP, the RB92579 and SP81-3250 varieties showed the highest tillering and dry matter production. The RB813804 and RB72454 varieties had the highest average for height, while the RB72454 and RB867515 varieties presented the largest stalk diameters.