NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY OF THREE FIJIAN SUGARCANE...

NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY OF THREE FIJIAN

SUGARCANE (Saccharum officinarum L.) VARIETIES;

MANA (LF60-3917), NAIDIRI (LF82-2122) AND QAMEA

(LF94-694)

Declaration of Authenticity

Statement by Author

Statement by Supervisor

This thesis is dedicated to the hardworking sugarcane farmers, laborers, cane truck

drivers and everyone associated with the Fijian sugar industry who inspired this

research, and to my beloved parents.

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Saccharum officinarum

Table of Contents

Abstract.............................................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Introduction....................................................................................................1

Chapter 2 Nitrogen use efficiency of three Fijian sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum

L.) varieties in a pot trial under greenhouse conditions ...............................................6

2.2.1 Site description

2.2.2 Plant material

2.2.3 Experimental design and treatments

2.2.4 Sampling and measurements

2.2.4.1 Biomass

2.2.4.2 N content

2.2.4.3 Nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE), nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE)

and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)

2.2.5 Statistical analysis

2.3.1 Biomass and N accumulation under low and high N supply

2.3.2 Determination of NUpE, NUtE and NUE

2.3.3 Relationship between NUE and biomass production

Chapter 3 Nitrogen use efficiency of three Fijian sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum

L.) varieties under field conditions ...............................................................................19

3.2.1 Site description

3.2.2 Plant material

3.2.3 Experimental design and treatments

3.2.4 Sampling and measurements

3.2.4.1 Soil sampling and analyses

3.2.4.2 Plant sampling

3.2.4.3 Biomass and cane yield

3.2.4.4 N content

3.2.4.5 Sucrose content and sugar yield

3.2.4.6 Nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE), nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE)

and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)

3.2.5 Statistical analysis

3.3.1 Biomass and cane yield

3.3.2 N accumulation

3.3.3 Sucrose content and sugar yield

3.3.4 Determination of NUpE, NUtE and NUE

3.3.4.1 NUpE

3.3.4.2 NUtE and NUE in terms of biomass production

3.3.4.3 NUtE and NUE in terms of sucrose yield

3.3.5 Relationship between NUE, biomass production and sucrose yield

Chapter 4 Implications of nitrogen use efficiency of three Fijian sugarcane

(Saccharum officinarum L.) varieties for the Fijian sugar industry..........................38

Bibliography ...................................................................................................................41

Introduction

Saccharum officinarum

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Zea mays

Triticum aestivum Oryza sativa

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Aim

Objectives

Nitrogen use efficiency of three Fijian sugarcane (Saccharum

officinarum L.) varieties in a pot trial under greenhouse conditions

2.1 Introduction

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Saccharum officinarum

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in vitro

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2.2 Materials and Methods

2.2.1 Site description

2.2.2 Plant material

2.2.3 Experimental design and treatments

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2.2.4 Sampling and measurements

2.2.4.1 Biomass

2.2.4.2 N content

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2.2.4.3 Nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE), nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE) and

nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)

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2.2.5 Statistical analysis

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2.3 Results and Discussion

2.3.1 Biomass and N accumulation under low and high N supply

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2.3.2 Determination of NUpE, NUtE and NUE

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2.3.3 Relationship between NUE and biomass production

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2.4 Conclusion

Nitrogen use efficiency of three Fijian sugarcane (Saccharum

officinarum L.) varieties under field conditions

3.1 Introduction

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3.2 Materials and Methods

3.2.1 Site description

3.2.2 Plant material

3.2.3 Experimental design and treatments

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3.2.4 Sampling and measurements

3.2.4.1 Soil sampling and analyses

et al.

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3.2.4.2 Plant sampling

3.2.4.3 Biomass and cane yield

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3.2.4.4 N content

3.2.4.5 Sucrose content and sugar yield

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al. et al.

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3.2.4.6 Nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE), nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE) and

nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)

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3.2.5 Statistical analysis

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3.3 Results and Discussion

3.3.1 Biomass and cane yield

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3.3.2 N accumulation

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3.3.3 Sucrose content and sugar yield

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3.3.4 Determination of NUpE, NUtE and NUE

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3.3.4.1 NUpE

3.3.4.2 NUtE and NUE in terms of biomass production

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3.3.4.3 NUtE and NUE in terms of sucrose yield

3.3.5 Relationship between NUE, biomass production and sucrose yield

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3.4 Conclusion

Implications of nitrogen use efficiency of three Fijian sugarcane

(Saccharum officinarum L.) varieties for the Fijian sugar industry

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