A comparison of 12-month sugarcane crop production between north Queensland and northern New South Wales

Climate has a major impact on sugarcane productivity but little quantitative information is available on its impact in widely contrasting locations in the Australian sugar industry. The impact of temperature and solar radiation on irrigated "potential" yield was examined by measuring 12 month sugarcane growth in north Queensland (Macknade) and northern New South Wales (Harwood). Cane yield was 13% higher at Macknade, but sugar yield was 28% lower at Harwood due to lower c.c.s. Temperature played a major role in determining these growth differences, with lower temperature at Harwood both during early growth and during winter. Radiation differences between the two locations were of lesser impact. Ongoing work is quantifying the physiological basis of these responses to allow estimation of the impact of climate over the wide latitudinal range of the Australian sugar industry.