Glyphosate as a ripener in sugarcane production in Batangas [Philippines]

Late recession of rainfall coinciding with the sugarcane ripening stage and early harvesting months had been occurring for the last decade. This is one of the reasons for the low sugar yields and declining profitability of sugarcane farming. In response, the use of cane ripeners was tried by some farmers in Eastern Batangas and they had been obtaining positive results. This study was conducted to determine the effects of glyphosate as a ripener on sugarcane (VMC 86-550) and to analyze the the financial advantage of using ripeners in sugarcane production. At 8 months after planting, appropriate plots in the sugarcane field were sprayed with any of 5 ripener concentrations: control (0%), 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.06% and 0.08%. Treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design with 3 replications. The field trial was conducted at Barangay [village] Banay-banay, Lipa City, Batangas from February to December 2006. The application of the ripener greatly affected the growth and physio-morphological features of the sugarcane plant over and above the effects of the 2 typhoons (Milenyo and Reming) that past the area during the conduct of the study. Leaf expansion was suppressed at 0.06% and 0.08% ripener concentrations. Reduction in leaf moisture was observed in all ripener treatments. Leaf moisture decreased (65.65% to 61.81% at 0.08% concentration) and total leaf phosphorus at 0.04% was reduced (1.73 mg/g to 1.19 mg/g). Millable stalks at harvest time were shorter and lighter at 0.08% concentration. The juice quality of the canes improved (higher Brix, percent pol and apparent purity). Sugar % cane increased from 15.10 to 16.30 at 0.04% concentration. The application of 0.04% concentration of glyphosate increased PS/TC from 1.56 to 1.68, which amounted to about 7.59 kg/TC or about 759 kg/ha (TC/ha=100). At 0.04% glyphosate concentration, an additional PhP 6.67 per peso invested was obtained and the net income per hectare increased from PhP 35,000 (control) to PhP 45,472 (0.04% concentration), or a 29.9% (PhP10, 466) net increase. The effects of the ripener in the succeeding ratoons are yet to be determined.