Résumé
Climate change has a significant impact on the cultivation of sugarcane, which is the most widely harvested crop on the planet. Increasing mean temperatures (especially night temperatures), changes in rainfall patterns, and higher CO2 levels will likely affect productivity in sugarcane growing areas. Consequently, these changes may even modify the geographical locations where this crop will be cultivated in future. Following work on adapting varieties to low temperatures in the highlands of Réunion Island, CIRAD has studied sugarcane cultivation on the Island of Corsica using eRcane varieties. To assess the performance of tropical sugarcane in a temperate zone of southern France, tissue-cultured plantlets of five varieties (R581, R582, R583, R92/4246, and R 98/401) were planted in 2022 in a trial at Domaine de Padulone. Stalk biomass, fiber content, Brix, and potential pure alcohol equivalent produced were determined in plant cane and first ratoon crops. The highest yields were obtained in plant cane crop (11 months) for R92/4246 (75.48 t of cane/ha) and in ratoon crop (11 months) for R583 (50.16 t of cane/ha). For the two crop cycles, juice production averaged 35,433 l/ha for R583 with a sucrose content (Brix) of 18.3 and very different varietal organoleptic qualities. The potential pure alcohol equivalent was 52.7 LPA/t of cane, corresponding to a 30.5 LPA/ha surface production with 12.3 t/ha (dry mass) of fiber production. These initial yield data are very promising as sugarcane yields in Corsica are acceptable in terms of both tonnage and sugar content, although yields varied greatly according to variety and crop cycle. These initial trials raise questions about adaptation of tropical varieties to temperate environments, cycle length and timing, water consumption, and weed management.