Enhancement of Emergence and Vigor in Sugarcane Stalk Lateral Buds through Seed Coating

This study explores innovative germination techniques to enhance sugarcane cuttings used as seeds. The primary goal was determining the most effective nutrient coating for sugarcane lateral buds to enhance early growth. The experiment was conducted in a controlled greenhouse and followed a completely randomized design with three replicates. The treatments investigated included various nutrient coatings: T1) a blend of starch, peat, and a mix of four essential nutrients; T2) starch, peat, and filter cake; T3) starch, peat, and a superabsorbent polymer; T4) starch, peat, and a micronutrient combination fertilizer; T5) starch alone with four nutrients; T6) starch, peat, and solid humic acid; T7) starch and solid humic acid; T8) four nutrients alone; T9) tragacanth gum, peat, and four nutrients; T10) tragacanth gum, peat, and solid humic acid; T11) tragacanth gum with liquid humic acid; and T12) a control group with no coating. The findings revealed that treatments T1 and T4 significantly improved growth characteristics, with a notable 0.23% increase in emergence rate and enhanced plant vigor compared to the control. But among the treatments, the characteristics mentioned in the T5 treatment showed the lowest value. The treatments used in this experiment except T5, significantly influenced essential crop establishments factors such as emergence rate and percentage, stalk height, root length, and plant vigor indices, thereby enhancing sugarcane growth and establishment in the early post-pelleting stages. Therefore, strategic application of essential nutrients through lateral bud coating is recommended for pelleting and mechanized planting in sugarcane.