Response of sugarcane varieties to deficit irrigation in Brazilian Savanna

Abstract

Goias state is the second largest producer of sugarcane in Brazil. However, it still has low productivity, mainly due to lack of varieties adapted to the region and the typical water deficit. This study was carried out with the objective to evaluate the performance of sixteen sugarcane varieties submitted to deficit irrigation in the “Cerrado” (Brazilian Savanna). The experiment was carried out in Goianesia-GO (Brazil), in a distrophic Red - Yellow Latosol (Oxisol), from April 2012 to May 2013 in randomized block design with treatments formatted for sixteen sugarcane varieties: CTC2, CTC4, CTC9, CTC11, CTC15, CTC18, IAC87-3396, IAC91-1099, IACSP94-3046, IACSP94-2094, IACSP94-2101, IACSP95-5000, RB857515, RB92579, Rb966928 and SP860042 and four replications. The deficit irrigation was of 50% water requirement using a sprinkler system. Performance of varieties was evaluated through tillering and productivity. The results showed significant differences among the varieties. The best results were obtained for varieties IAC91-1099, CTC15, CTC11, SP86-0042, IAC87-3396, RB92579, CTC2, CTC4, RB867515 and IACSP94-2094, with yield varying from 165.28 to 136.53 t ha^-1, and these can be recommended for cultivation under “Cerrado” with deficit irrigation of 50% of ETc.