Path coefficient analysis on growth parameters of chewing sugarcane as affected by fertility rates and weed control treatments at Badeggi, Nigeria.

Field trials were conducted at the upland sugarcane experimental field of National Cereals Research Institute Badeggi, Niger state, Nigeria from 2004–2007 wet and dry seasons to determine the direct, indirect and individual percentage contribution of sugarcane growth parameters to stalk yield (t/ha). The results obtained show the interrelationship between stalk yield with growth parameters in 2004–2005, 2005–2006 and 2006–2007. The growth parameters (stalk length, stalk girth, number of chewable stalks and crop vigour score) had positive and direct contribution to the stalk yield. Through out the study, number of chewable stalks gave the highest of the direct and percentage contribution of 0.5495 and 30.20 to stalk yield in 2004–2005, (0.5510 and 30.36) 2005–2006 and (0.5602 and 31.36) in 2006–2007. This was followed by stalk girth (0.3797 and 14.14) in 2004–2005, (0.3831 and 14.68) in 2005–2006 and (0.3939 and 15.52) in 2006–2007. While the lowest individual percentage contribution was obtained from crop vigour score 0.89 in 2004–2005, 0.91 in 2005–2006 and 0.93 in 2006–2007. The stalk girth and chewable stalks made the highest combined contribution to the stalk yield of 22.17, 22.37 and 22.49 in 2004–2005, 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 respectively.