The Effect of Soil Salinity on Growth and Yield of Some Sugar Cane Varieties

摘要

A factorial experiment with four replications was carried out in square lysimeter, filled with non saline, silt clay soil at the Agric. Res. Station Alex. Egypt during 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 seasons, to study the response of three sugar cane cultivars (G.T 54-9, G.T 75-393 and G. 68-88) to the varying levels of salinity (control, 3000, 6000 and 9000 ppm), and their interaction on growth and yield of plant crop and first ratoon. Salinity levels were artificially created by adding calcium chloride, magnesium sulphates and sodium chloride in 1;1;2 ratio. A high level of salinity 9000 ppm i.e. (14.062 mmhos/cm at 25°C) decreased significantly all the growth parameters (plant height, number of tillers, cane diameter and leaf area), yield components (stalk weight kg/m2, juice weight kg/m2 and theoretical sugar weight kg/m~2) as well as T.S.S %, sucrose % and purity % as compared with control treatment. In addition the cultivars differed significantly for the previous mentioned character according to their susceptibility to salinity and results showed that G.T 54-9 was the most tolerant to high levels of salinity as compared with G.T 75-393 and G 68-88 in plant crop and first ratoon. The reduction percentages of sugar weight kg/m~2 for G.T 75-393 and G 68-88 as compared with G.T 54-9, were 21.05% for each variety in plant crop, while were 18.29% and 24.55%. respectively in the 1st ratoon. In addition the reduction percentages in sugar weight kg/m~2 as compared with the control treatment were 9.58%, 35.38% and 51.96% in plant crop and 12.21%, 35.92% and 52.87% in first ratoon for the different salinity levels 3000, 6000 and 9000 ppm, respectively.