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Relationships among Stalk Length, Leaf Area, and Dry Biomass of Sugarcane¹

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a leading contender in comparisons of biomass energy systems, however, scientific information on growth factors affecting biomass is limited and precludes establishing valid interrelationships for predicting biomass production. With that objective in mind, two sugarcane experiments were conducted at lysimeter and field sites to study the relationships among stalk length, leaf area index, and dry biomass. Three replications of five cultivars ‘CP 63-588,’ ‘CP 56-59,’ ‘CP 65-357,’ ‘C1 54-378,’ and ‘C1 54-336’ were planted in six lysimeters where water tables were maintained at 30, 60, and 90 an. Cultivar ‘CP 65-357’ was planted in the field at 0.5 and 1.5 m row spacings. Leaf area and the stalk length were measured. Two equations involving leaf area were developed. The first equation estimated leaf area (Y) ffom stalk length (X) by an exponential-hyperbolic function; i.e. Y Exp [X/(1.140 + 0.111X + 0.177 x 10^–4 X³)]. The second equation predicted dry biomass (DB) from the cumulative time interaction with leaf area index (CTXLAI), i.e. DB = Exp [CTXLAI/(0.388 + 0.280 CTXLAI)]. The relationships developed should be useful for easily estimating sugarcane biomass.

Key Words: Saccharum spp • Leaf area index • Stalk population • Row spacings • Dry-matter production

² Associate professor of agricultural engineering and professor of agronomy, respectively, Univ. of Florida, IFAS, Agric. Res. and Educ. Ctr. Belle Glade, FL 33430.

Received for publication May 20, 1978.