Comparison of growth responses to soil moisture content between two sugarcane varieties differing in regional adaptability - Comparison between NCo310 and Ni1

The difference in the growth response to soil moisture content was investig ated between two sugarcane cultivars, NCo310 and Nil, differing in regional adaptability. An optimum curvilinear relationship was found between the so il moisture content and dry weight of the plant. No difference in the optim um soil moisture 'content (f(opt)) was found between the two cultivars. The soil moisture content at which growth stops (f(0)) was lower in NCo310. Th e early growth of sugarcanes was extremely inhibited under a soil submergin g condition in both cultivars, but in NCo310 such an inhibition was removed gradually with the passage of time. Although the plant weight in f(opt) te nded to be heavier in NCo310 than in Nil, the latter was not inferior to th e former in the stalk weight under optimum to sub-optimum soil moisture con ditions because the percentage of stem to total dry weight (SP) was higher in the latter. On the other hand, the stalk weight of Nil dropped largely b oth under submerging and arid conditions because of larger decreases both i n plant weight and SP. The characteristics such as lower f(0,) faster adapt ation to soil submerging condition and relatively high stability of SP were judged to support the wide regional adaptability of NCo310.