EL CULTIVO DE CAÑA DE AZÚCAR EN LA COSTA DEL PERÚ DURANTE LOS EVENTOS DE EL NIÑO 1982-83 Y 1997-98.

The sugarcane crop is cultivated in about 140 000 ha in the Peruvian coastal area. The average yield is 140 t/ha-year and 10-12% sucrose. However, the occurrence of El Niño phenomenon very seriously affects cane quality and production. An investigation was carried out to determine the effect of minimum temperatures, above 18°C, in sugar cane juice quality and in the presence of insects in two sugarcane plantations during El Niño 1982-83 and 1997-98 events. Information was obtained from samples that were collected and processed to determine stem maturation, between September 1982 and February 1983 (Paramonga) and between January 1997 and December 1998 (Casa Grande). It was found out that maturation was seriously affected. In Paramonga, for each temperature unit increase, there was a change in pol percent. In Casa Grande, minimum temperature increases reduced pol percent (R2=0.53). The insect pests Diatraea saccharalis (F.) and Perkinsiella saccharicida showed increases in their populations and produced sugar losses. Increases in Sipha flava, Aphis sacchari and Metamasius hemipterus were also found. Rats (Rattus norvegicus) affected almost 40 percent of stem internodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]