Agronomic and Yield Assessment of High-Yielding Sugarcane Varieties (Phil 99-1793 and Phil 2004-1011) in Response to Integrated Nutrient Management
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A B S T R A C T
Sugarcane farming plays a vital role in rural livelihoods, agro-industrial development, and national economic growth. Evaluation of two high-yielding sugarcane varieties: Phil 99-1793 and Phil 2004-1011 under different nutrient management strategies: full recommended inorganic fertilizer (70-140-260 kg NPK ha⁻¹), mud press at 10 t ha⁻¹, and an integrated nutrient management (INM) approach consisting of 50% recommended inorganic fertilizer (35-70 130 kg NPK ha⁻¹) combined with 5 t ha⁻¹ mud press. The experiment was arranged in a Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Philippines, from June 2021 to April 2022. Standard cultural management practices were employed. Agronomic and juice quality parameters were analysed at the 5% threshold level. Nutrient treatments did not differ significantly in stalk diameter, number of nodes, or number of internodes. Phil 2004-1011 outperformed Phil 99-1793 in plant height (149.89 cm), stalk length (198.84 cm), plot weight (111.44 kg), cane yield (30.89 t ha⁻¹), sucrose yield (2.06 LKg TC⁻¹), and sugar yield (1.63 LKg ha⁻¹), demonstrating superior genetic potential. Full inorganic fertilizer (IF) positively increased tiller count, Brix, sucrose yield, and sugar yield. INM application enhanced the number of millable canes and produced comparable cane yield (30 t ha⁻¹), indicating potential as a cost-efficient and sustainable alternative. Combination of high-performing varieties with optimized nutrient management strategies can improve productivity, resource-use efficiency, and sustainable sugarcane production. Findings recommended exploring root architecture, physiological responses to stress conditions, nutrient dynamics, soil microbial interactions, and molecular characterization under diverse environmental conditions.