Application of participatory variety selection for sugarcane improvement

Abstract

The crop varieties selected solely by plant breeders may not be well-accepted by the farmers, time and budget resources for crop improvement are wasted. Participatory variety selection (PVS) would be the best solution means for this problem. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the elite sugarcane varieties in multiple environments, to select the sugarcane varieties by PVS in which small scale farmers and large scale farmers are involved and determine the relationship between cane yield and preference percentage for identifying the selection criteria of small scale farmers and large scale farmers. Twelve elite sugarcane varieties were evaluated at 14 locations in the crop year 2015/16 for planted crop and 2016/17 for ratoon crop by using a randomized complete block design with four replications. The crop was planted in four-row plots with the plot size of 6 m and a spacing of 1.5 m between rows and 0.5 m between hills within rows. Two sugarcane billets were planted in each hill. The result show that three elite varieties including CSB08-111, CSB08-108 and CSB08-99 had the highest cane yield across 14 locations and two crops (planted and ratoon) with cane yields of 20.65, 20.44 and 19.33 tons/ rai, respectively. Also, CSB08-111 and CSB08-108 had the highest sugar yield of 2.76 and 2.73 tons/CCS per rai, respectively, For planted crop, CSB08-108 was selected by the farmers with the vote scores of 14.79 and 15.61% by small scale farmers and large scale farmers, respectively. The two runner-ups were CSB08-99 and CSB08-111 was selected by the farmers with vote scores of 13.95% and 13.55 % by small scale farmers, respectively. And vote scores of 15.45% and 21.13% by large scale farmers, respectively. In ratoon crop, CSB08-99 was selected by the farmers with vote scores of 21.69% by small scale farmers and 21.41% by large scale farmers. The two runner-ups were CSB08-108 and CSB08-111 was selected by the farmers with vote scores of 20.81% and 16.68% by small scale farmers, respectively. And vote scores of 19.05% and 16.11% by large scale farmers, respectively. The varieties selected by farmers were in consistence with those identified by yield trial. The criteria of selection by farmers were tillering 51.77% and 37.86% by small scale farmers and large scale farmers, respectively. Stalk size 30.69% and 42.90% by small scale farmers and large scale farmers, respectively. Growth parameters 5.60% and 11.12% by small scale farmers and large scale farmers, respectively. And trash free 2.28% and 3.38% by small scale farmers and large scale farmers, respectively. The selection criteria used by farmers were yield components, including stalk number and stalk weight. Sugarcane breeders should take the farmer criteria into account for selection of sugarcane to obtain the high yielding varieties with farmers’ acceptance. The selection programs would be more effective, and the newly released varieties are more acceptable with adopted to increase sugarcane productivity of the country.