Figure 1. Planting was done on April 7 at the Iberia Research Station using planters spaced 19 inches apart on top of a typical sugarcane row to achieve a planted population of between 30,000 and 35,000 plants per acre.

Figure 2. Seed were precision planted using a cone planter designed to meter out seed at a designated spacing.

Figure 3. The soil type at the Iberia Research Station, a Baldwin silty clay loam, is a typical soil found in the sugar belt. It has high clay content and is fertile when well drained.

The Iberia Research Station, located in the heart of the sugar belt near Jeanerette, La., will be concentrating on early plantings to accommodate ratoon crops, on nitrogen fertilizer rates to optimize yield and maturity and on determining the effects of growing sweet sorghum in the traditional fallow period on the productivity of subsequent sugarcane crops.

Sonny Viator
Iberia Station (Lead Scientist)