Effect of varieties and planting dates on quality parameters of sugarcane

A field experiment titled "Effect of Varieties and Planting Dates on Quality Parameters of Sugarcane" was conducted at the Regional Sugarcane and Rice Research Station, Rudrur, Telangana, during 2023-2024 to evaluate the juice quality of different genotypes across varying planting windows. The study employed a split-plot design with two varieties 2006 A 223 (early maturing) and Co 86032 (mid-late maturing) as main plots, and eight planting dates (ranging from 5^th December to 20^th March) as subplots. Standard analytical procedures were used to estimate Brix, Sucrose %, Commercial Cane Sugar (CCS) %, and Purity Co-efficient %. Results indicated that Brix % was significantly influenced by the interaction between variety and planting date. Variety 2006 A 223 recorded its peak Brix (22.5%) during early January sowings, while Co 86032 reached its maximum (21.9%) in February, suggesting that genotypes must be matched to specific planting windows to optimize soluble solids. Sucrose content % and Purity Co-efficient % remained statistically stable across all treatments, with mean purity levels of 90.5% and 90.4% for 2006 A 223 and Co 86032, respectively. The CCS % was significantly affected by variety, with 2006 A 223 (13.8%) significantly outperforming Co 86032 (13.3%). Regression analysis showed that Co 86032 exhibited higher predictability and stability, with strong correlations between Brix and Sucrose (R² = 0.8443) and Brix and CCS (R² = 0.7592). Conversely, 2006 A 223 showed a moderate CCS correlation (R² = 0.4005) and a negative trend with purity (R² = 0.3753). The study concludes that while planting dates influence the timing of quality accumulation, the ultimate commercial sugar output is primarily determined by the genetic potential of the variety.