Sugarcane is one of the most valuable crops grown in the world and is used to produce sugar for human consumption, ethanol, and energy. Approximately 70% of the sugar produced globally is derived from sugarcane.

Sugarcane is a specific species of tall tropical, perennial grasses and can grow up to 4 meters with stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sucrose. A mature stalk is composed of 11–16% fiber, 12–16% soluble sugars, 2–3% non-sugars, and 63–73% water. The economic value of the plant lies in the stalks. High quality sugarcane has a good juice content with sugar levels higher than 20%.

Proper root development is extremely important for successful sugarcane cultivation. Immediately after planting the young plants depend on the vigour of the thin branched roots of the sett, the stem cuttings of the sugarcane that are used for propagation of new plants. Later, thicker white roots will develop from the basal nodes of the new plant and replace the sett roots to supply the plant with all the required nutrients. These fibrous roots occur in the top 25-30 cm of the soil and are important in the absorption of nutrients. Buttress roots that help to anchor the plants, are produced from nodes near the base of the stem.

The tillers of ratoon sugarcane form their own root system and soon replace the old roots of the stool, which die and break down. The root system of the ratoon crop is sensitive to soil compaction and is more superficial than that of the original plant crop.

Sugarcane crops produce a large quantity of biomass and this means that the plants generally demand high amounts of nutrients.

Over the past couple of years biostimulants have become an important tool that farmers can use to stimulate healthy root development, plant growth and increase yields. The natural hormone auxin is found in a liquid seaweed extract sold by Afrikelp and is used on plants to treat roots as a natural biostimulant to help plants to extract nutrients from the soil more efficiently.

Various crop trials done by Afrikelp showed that the number of roots on the crops treated with the kelp products were always more than those found on the control group of plants. With more roots, crops can absorb more nutrients and is therefore more resilient against disease and harsh environmental conditions. This means that the use of these products can mitigate stress in plants caused by drought, disease, or other environmental factors.

In sugarcane, Afrikelp™ LG-1 can be used for the following:
• The stalks of new plantings can be dipped in a recommended solution.
• The stalks can be sprayed in the furrows before covering them with soil.
• The growing plants can be sprayed with the recommended solution at the 60 to 90 cm leaf length.

Follow the product recommendations closely and keep an eye on the environmental conditions such as time of day, temperature, and weather, to ensure consistent results.

The Komati Group in South Africa produces sugarcane on the banks of the Crocodile River near Malelane on their Riverside and Whisky farms. They cultivate the latest varieties that use less water, have a higher tolerance to pests and yield a higher sucrose content. Afrikelp™ LG-1 is applied when they establish new plantations through the micro irrigation system beneath the soil. On new and ratoon plantations, they apply the solution during the 7-leave stadium of the plants and if they see that the plants are experiencing stress during a drying spell during the season, they will follow up with a Afrikelp™ LG-1 application.

“Afrikelp™ LG-1 definitely stimulates better root development on new plants as well as on ratoon sugarcane. We found that it has definitely assisted to obtain an increase in yield,” says Marinus Neethling, Production Director of the Komati Fruit Group.
“The benefits of using Afrikelp™ LG-1 definitely outweighs the cost. I would recommend using kelp on any crop to mitigate stress periods during a plant’s development and growth stages.”