Influence of Climate on Sugarcane Yield in Côte d’Ivoire: Case of the Ferkessédougou Region

This study aims to understand the current climatic trends and explain the possible losses of agricultural yields. To achieve this objective, this work characterized the evolution of extreme temperature indices in the sugar complexes of Ferké 1 and Ferké 2, two stations located in the northern part of C?te d'Ivoire. The onset and cessation dates of the rainy season and the length of the rainy season were investigated. The agricultural and climatic data were obtained from each sugar complex. The period of study ranges from 2002 to 2019 in Ferké 1 and Ferké 2. The results show significant upward trends in extreme temperature indices. The analysis of sugarcane yield associated with the different climatic parameters shows no significant results in general. However, on the Ferkessédougou sugar complexes, the results highlight that maximum and minimum temperatures could be the variables that influence most yield production. The maximum temperature with coefficients of 1.60 and 0.77 at Ferké 1 and Ferké 2 respectively seems to contribute to an increase in yield while the minimum temperature with coefficients of -0.98 and -0.22 at Ferké 1 and Ferké 2 respectively could lead to a loss in yield. The results obtained with the Single Linear Regression (SLR) and the Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) models also highlight the strong influence of minimum and maximum temperatures.

Sugarcane Yield Variations in Northern and Central Ivory Coast as Influenced by Soil Water Balance over Two Critical Growth Stages

The influence of water deficit as main cane yield limiting factor in Ivory Coast was investigated on SUCAF Ferke 2 and Sucrivoire Zuenoula sugarcane commercial plantations. A soil water balance model was used to assess crop water uptake over two critical growth stages, namely stem elongation and yield formation, to be correlated with cane yields. Under simulated rainfed conditions, average yields performed on yearly basis （from 1991 to 1997） in both sites were highly dependent （linearly） on average crop water satisfaction ratio （ETa/ETm） over these critical growth stages. Under real field conditions in Ferke 2 （irrigation water being considered in addition to rainfall）, cane yields of early as well as late maturing sugarcane varieties obtained on yearly basis were dependent on average crop water satisfaction ratio over both growth stages. In Zudnoula, cane yield fluctuations were generally not predicted by crop water satisfaction ratio, regardless the cropping season considered. However, average cane yields obtained from year to year over the study period in both sugarcane schemes were highly dependent on the average crop water uptake ratio. This shows the important contribution of water in predicting yearly variations of average cane yields produced on Ivorian sugarcane commercial plantations.

Effect and Analysis of Mechanized Production on Ratooning Ability of Guitang 47

[Objectives] This study was conducted to explore the effect of machine harvesting on ratooning ability of Guitang 47, and to provide basis for mechanized production of Guitang 47. [Methods] On the basis of mechanized planting and management of newly planted sugarcane Guitang 47, a comparative test of machine harvesting and manual harvesting was conducted, during which the plant generation rate, sugarcane yield, sucrose content and related agronomic traits of ratoon cane were continuously investigated in two years after machine harvesting of the newly planted sugarcane. [Results] There were no significant differences in the plant generation rate, plant height, stalk diameter, millable cane, sugarcane yield and sucrose content from manual harvesting of Guitang 47 in the first and second years after machine harvesting. In the second year after machine harvesting, the yields of ratoon cane and the sugar content reached 101.70 and 15.32 t/hm^2, respectively, which were equivalent to those of manual harvesting. [Conclusions] Guitang 47 has strong ratooning ability and lodging resistance and strong resistance to rolling and crushing, and is adaptive to full mechanized production. It should be promoted and accelerated in sugarcane areas lacking labor to reduce costs and increase benefits.