What are the causes of sugarcane lodging and the preventive measures?
In the process of planting sugarcane, farmers often encounter the phenomenon of sugarcane lodging, which is extremely detrimental to sugarcane growth and may even lead to large-scale plant death. So what causes sugarcane lodging? Let's find out together.
1. Causes of sugarcane lodging
In the mid-to-late elongation stage of sugarcane, the plants are tall and have relatively many leaves. At this time, if they are hit by wind and rain, lodging is extremely likely to occur. This is especially true after rain, when water accumulates at the tail end of the sugarcane and becomes too heavy; then lodging occurs as soon as wind blows. After sugarcane lodges, the stem nodes near the ground very easily sprout aerial roots and send out side shoots, causing the originally upright stalks to become bent. In addition, because the nutrients in the internodes are consumed in large amounts, hollowing or pithiness occurs. This causes severe yield reduction in sugarcane, a decline in sugar content, and poor ratoon development, and it also has a tremendous impact on planting the following year.
2. Effects after sugarcane lodging
After sugarcane lodges, its leaves overlap with one another, reducing the area available for photosynthesis, so very few nutrients are synthesized. Moreover, after lodging, its roots and stems are damaged or directly broken, which also creates obstacles to nutrient absorption and transport by the root system, making hollowing and pithiness very likely to form. Such sugarcane has no commercial value at all. In addition, after lodging, the stem nodes sprout large numbers of aerial roots, causing side buds to germinate and grow in large quantities, which greatly reduces the sugar content of the sugarcane and causes severe yield reduction. Furthermore, because the leaves cover the ground after lodging, this creates the best place for pests, diseases, and rodents, and broken roots also affect the sprouting of ratoons the following year.
3. Preventive measures
When selecting varieties, choose those with strong wind resistance and lodging resistance. In hilly areas, choose plots that are sheltered from the wind and face the sun for planting; in plain areas, choose places with windbreak belts for planting. This can greatly prevent lodging caused by strong winds. When planting, insist on deep plowing and plant appropriately deep, so as to encourage the root system to grow deep downward and enhance the plant's lodging resistance. Fertilize reasonably, do not apply nitrogen fertilizer alone, and combine nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers reasonably to enhance the toughness of sugarcane. Earth up in good time and appropriately increase the height of the earth-up. After rain, drain water and reduce waterlogging in good time, lower the groundwater level, and encourage the root system to grow deep and develop abundantly. Before windy weather arrives, you can strip leaves from the sugarcane and bundle the cane, tying three to five adjacent rows of sugarcane into a bundle in a chevron shape to enhance mutual support. After the wind, straighten the lodged sugarcane in good time, add soil and tread it firm, and apply a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer in good time.
The above is an introduction to the causes of sugarcane lodging and preventive measures. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.