Path coefficient analysis of some sugar quality parameters of chewing sugarcane as affected by fertility rates and weed control treatments at Badeggi, Nigeria

Abstract

Field trials were conducted at the upland sugarcane experimental field of National Cereals Research Institute Badeggi, Nigeria in 2004 - 2005, 2005 - 2006 and 2006 - 2007 wet and dry seasons to determine the direct, indirect and individual percentage contribution of sugar quality parameters of chewing sugarcane to sucrose yield.  The results obtained show the interrelationship between sucrose yields with sugar quality parameters in the three years.  The sugar quality parameters (percent brix, percent fibre, percent purity and percent polarity) had positive and direct contribution to the stalk yield.  The relative direct and indirect contributions of sugar quality parameters showed percent brix as the highest of both direct and percentage contributor of (0.4512 and 20.36 to sucrose yield in 2004 - 2005, 0.4762 and 22.62 in 2005 - 2006 and 0.4809 and 22.03 in 2006 - 2007).  This was followed with percent polarity next to percent brix with 0.3499 and12.24, 0.3590 and 12.89 and 0.3731and 13.92 of both direct and percentage contribution to sucrose yield in each of the three years respectively.  While the lowest individual percentage contribution was obtained from percent purity of 1.72 in 2004-2005, 3.98 in 2005 - 2006 and 3.99 in 2006 - 2007.  The contribution of percent fibre to the sucrose yield was negative throughout the periods of the experimentation.