DRYING OFF TABLES - INTRODUCTION


How the plant accumulates sucrose under stress

During the early stages of stress the sugarcane plant slows down its leaf and stalk
development while photosynthetic rates remain relatively high. Sucrose is produced by photosynthesis and used in the production of new leaf, root and stalk tissue. Sucrose that
would usually be used in growth is deposited in the stalk when mild stress develops.
It is therefore possible to increase the sucrose content and raise sucrose yields by inducing
mild levels of stress. More severe stress, which we here intend to avoid, will lead to losses in sucrose yields.


Planning drying off schedules using the tables

The soil moisture content and the evaporative demand will largely govern the rate at which plants transpire. After all the freely available soil moisture has been extracted by the plant, stress will start developing. The stress is due to the plant not extracting sufficient moisture
to satisfy evaporative demand. Tables have been created for you to view the appropriate number of drying off days for soils of different moisture holding capacities (TAM), of different areas for the harvest months April to November.