The main purpose of sugarcane plant is sucrose production that depends of environmental conditions during the growth. There is four growth stages that are affected by divers factors. Bud germination is affected by apical domination, nutrition of stalks pieces for vegetative propagation, bud position on the culm, bud position on the furrow, treatments to prevent diseases, varieties and climatic factors. After bud germination starts tillering period that depends mainly from climatic factors, fertilization, varieties and cultural practices. From tillering to sugar accumulation beginning depends basically from plant physiological age, climatic factors and fertilization. When the sugarcane cycle is completed, paralyse the growth and starts sugar concentration until reach values accepted by industries. In temperatures bigger than 18°C, the sugarcane will continue the growth until other factor determine growth paralysation and posterior sugar accumulation.
sugarcane; growth stages; productivity
