Sugarcane and sugar yields in Louisiana (1911-2018): Varietal development and mechanization

Louisiana is the second largest producer of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) in the United States. New sugarcane cultivars better adapted for Louisiana have been in development since the inception of a three-way cooperative breeding program in the 1920s. Piecewise regression is used to determine the growth in both Louisiana sugarcane and sugar yields and how new sugarcane cultivars and mechanization have had a positive impact of yields. The analysis uses several breakpoints for periods between 1911 and 2018 to consider the impact of varietal development and mechanization. In most cases, new sugarcane cultivars and changes in mechanization in Louisiana have significantly increased the yield of sugarcane and sugar. From 1911 to 2018, raw sugar yield increased at an annual rate of 0.061 t ha(-1), while gross sugarcane yield increased by 0.47 t ha(-1). Prior to 1927, yield growth was either negative or highly variable; since 1927, yield growth for both raw sugar and gross sugarcane have been positive and significant.