Sugarcane productivity and sugar yield improvement: Selecting variety, nitrogen fertilizer rate, and bioregulator as a first-line treatment

The improvement of sugarcane productivity depends on the crop varieties, growth environments, and management practices. In particular, the selection of the most productive variety and the use of an optimal fertilizer rate and plant bioregulator are critical for increasing sugarcane productivity and sugar yield. This study aimed to determine the high-performing sugarcane variety, optimal nitrogen rate, and potential bioregulator for improved sugarcane production, juice quality, and sugar yield. Two sugarcane varieties (D42/58 and NCo-334), three nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates (0, 100, and 150 kg/ha), and two bioregulators (Agrostemin and Crops®) were used for the study. The study revealed that sugarcane variety had a significant effect on all growth, yield, and quality parameters. Plant height was significantly influenced by variety and bioregulators, while stalk population was significantly influenced by two- and three-way interactions of varieties, bioregulators, and N fertilizer rates. Cane weight was significantly affected by variety, N fertilizer rate, and bioregulators, whereas cane yield was significantly affected by variety, N fertilizer, and their interaction effects. Sugar yield was similarly influenced by variety, bioregulator, and their interaction. The three main factors, as well as their two- and three-way interactions, had a considerable influence on cane quality parameters. Sugarcane variety D42/58 significantly outperformed variety NCo-334 in terms of sprouting, number of tillers, plant height, number of millable canes, and sucrose percentage by 7.49%, 9.50%, 12.80%, 10.50%, and 9.10%, respectively. The use of the D42/58 variety with N fertilizer (at 100 kg/ha) and/or the Agrostemin bioregulator also led to higher performance in cane population (107126), cane yield (153.34 tons/ha), Pol % (15.81%), and sugar yield (10.25 tons/ha). Most sugarcane growth, yield, juice quality, and sugar yield parameters were positively correlated; hence, high-performing varieties, appropriate N rates, and plant bioregulators could boost sugarcane productivity and sugar yield. Overall, the selection and combination of sugarcane variety D42/58 with 100 kg N/ha and/or Agrostemin bioregulator could maximize sugarcane production, juice quality, and sugar yield. To confirm the current findings, however, more research needs to be conducted across different agroecologies and seasons.