Influence of harvest timing on sugarcane quality parameters in ecuador: a multivariate analysis using PCA and MANOVA biplot

This study evaluates the impact of pre-harvest wilting treatments (90, 75, 60, 45, and 30 days before harvest) on sugarcane quality in Ecuador, utilizing PCA Biplot and MANOVA Biplot to identify key factors affecting quality. The experiment was conducted on the CC-8592 sugarcane variety, with five treatments and four replications per treatment. Results showed a strong correlation between quality variables such as Brix, Pol, and juice purity, but no significant differences were observed among the wilting treatments. These findings suggest that pre-harvest wilting time does not significantly affect sugarcane quality under the studied conditions, indicating that other agronomic practices may have a greater impact on quality. Data on agronomic traits and quality parameters like weight, stem diameter, height, yield, brix, and juice purity were collected and analyzed. PCA Biplot findings revealed a strong correlation among quality variables, accounting for 98.5% of the cumulative variance, suggesting a significant interrelation with overall cane quality. However, MANOVA Biplot showed that wilting treatments did not significantly alter these quality metrics, indicating that other management practices may have a more substantial impact on sugarcane quality than the timing of wilting. The study highlights that while wilting is commonly used in sugarcane management, its effect is limited under the studied conditions in Ecuador. This research provides a basis for refining cultivation strategies and underscores the need for informed agronomic practices to enhance both the productivity and sustainability of sugarcane production.