Tow field experiments were carried out at Mallawi Agricultural Research Station, Minia Governorate grown as plant cane in 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasons and the 1st ratoon crops in 2009/2010 to investigate three harvest dates at ages of (10, 12 and 14 months) on the performance of two promising sugar cane varieties G.99-80, G.99-160 and the commercial variety G.T.54-9 as a control. A split plot design with four replications was used in both seasons. Harvest dates treatments were allocated in the main plots while sugar cane varieties were randomly distributed in the sub plots.
The results showed that harvest date up to 14 months recorded the highest values of stalk height, weight kg/plant and cane yields/fed in plant cane and 1st ratoon crops over the other two harvest dates.
Sugarcane varieties differed significantly, where G.99-80 variety recorded the highest stalk height, weight kg/plant, cane and sugar yields in the plant cane and 1st ratoon crop over the other two varieties., in respectively. G.99-160 variety surpassed G.99-80 and G.T.54-9 varieties in brix% in plant cane in both seasons and 1st ratoon crop. G.T.54-9 surpassed in stalk diameter, sucrose% and sugar recovery%.
The interaction between sugar cane variety G.99-80 and 14 months harvest date in 1st plant cane and 1st ratoon crop to obtain the highest cane yields. Under conditions of this work, 14 months for the plant cane and the 1st ratoon crop of G.99-80 variety grown at Mallawi represent Middle Egypt can be recommended to obtain the highest cane and sugar yields/fed.