SBIEC 14006 – A high biomass energycane for power, alcohol and paper industries

Abstract

Six energycanes viz., SBIEC 14001, SBIEC 14002, SBIEC 14003, SBIEC 14004, SBIEC 14005 and SBIEC 14006 developed at ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute were evaluated along with a registered genetic stock SBIEC 11002 for biomass production under suboptimal management condition with limited irrigation and fertigation during 2013-14 and 2014-15 and under normal irrigation during 2015-16 (Plant crop) and 2016-17 (Ratoon crop). Among the six clones evaluated, SBIEC 14006, a selection from open pollinated fluff of Erianthus arundinaceus clone IK 76-75 was identified as promising clone based on high harvestable biomass and fibre content in cane. This clone recorded the highest mean harvestable biomass of 265.28 t/ha compared to the SBIEC 11002 (219.22) across four environments and showed 21.01 % improvement. The mean harvestable biomass yield under limited irrigation condition was 241.47 t/ha while under normal irrigation condition the yield was 289.08 t/ha. For fibre % cane also SBIEC 14006 recorded the highest value of 27.54 % compared to SBIEC 11002 (20.90 %). The clone recorded an average of 8.94 % juice brix and 4.72 % juice sucrose. It also recorded 2.18 cm cane diameter and 1.24 kg of single cane weight. Tall and non-lodging nature of canes makes the clone amenable for mechanical harvesting. This clone can be ratooned for at least 7-8 years hence no need for replanting every year. This promising clone is identified as an ideal energycane due to more biomass yield per unit area and requires low input, low production cost and low nutrient requirement which are the characteristics of energycanes.

Keywords

• type i energycanes
• type ii energycanes
• biomass
• fibre %
• erianthus arundinaceus