Response to drought of sugarcane for root traits is considered to be an important mechanism in which the crop can maintain cane yield under drought conditions. The objective of this study was, therefore, to investigate root distribution patterns of sugarcane and their relationships with cane yields under rain-fed conditions. Thirteen elite sugarcane clones (KK06-501, KK07-478, NSUT08-22-3-13, RT2004-085, CSB06-2-15, CSB06-2-21, CSB06-4-162, CSB06-5-20, TBy27-1385, TBy28-0348, MPT02-458, MPT03-166 and 91-2-527) and three check varieties (KK3, LK92-11 and Kps01-12) were planted in a randomized complete block design with four replications at two locations. Root length density (RLD) was measured via the auger method at 4, 6 and 8 months after planting (MAP) at two positions between plants and between rows. Cane yield was measured at 12 MAP. RLD in the upper soil layers was measured at 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm below the soil surface, whereas RLD in the lower soil layers was measured at 40–60, 60–80 and 80–100 cm below the soil surface. Sugarcane genotypes were significantly different for RLD and cane yield in both locations, and the RLDs of the 13 sugarcane varieties grown under rain-fed conditions were classified into four patterns. The sugarcane varieties changed their root distribution patterns when evaluated at 6 and 8 MAP. KK3 was predominant and most interesting as it had consistently high yield in both locations and high root length density in the lower soil layers in response to drought.

甘蔗根系性状对干旱的响应被认为是作物在干旱条件下保持甘蔗产量的重要机制。因此，本研究的目的是研究雨养条件下甘蔗的根系分布模式及其与甘蔗产量的关系。13个精英甘蔗克隆（KK06-501，KK07-478，NSUT08-22-3-13，RT2004-085，CSB06-2-15，CSB06-2-21，CSB06-4-162，CSB06-5-20，TBy27 -1385，TBy28-0348，MPT02-458，MPT03-166和91-2-527）和三个检查品种（KK3，LK92-11和Kps01-12）种植在随机完整块设计中，在两个位置重复四次。在植株之间和两行之间的两个位置，在种植后第4、6和8个月（MAP），通过螺旋钻法测量根长密度（RLD）。在12 MAP下测量甘蔗产量。在土壤表层以下0–20 cm和20–40 cm处测量RLD，而在土壤表层以下40–60、60–80和80–100 cm处测量RLD。在两个地方，甘蔗基因型的RLD和甘蔗产量均存在显着差异，在雨养条件下生长的13个甘蔗品种的RLD分为四种模式。在6和8 MAP评估时，甘蔗品种改变了其根系分布模式。KK3是最主要和最有趣的，因为它在干旱和干旱地区均表现出较高的产量，并且在较低的土壤层具有较高的根长密度。在两个地方，甘蔗基因型的RLD和甘蔗产量均存在显着差异，在雨养条件下生长的13个甘蔗品种的RLD分为四种模式。在6和8 MAP评估时，甘蔗品种改变了其根系分布模式。KK3是最主要和最有趣的，因为它在干旱和干旱地区均表现出较高的产量，并且在较低的土壤层具有较高的根长密度。在两个地方，甘蔗基因型的RLD和甘蔗产量均存在显着差异，在雨养条件下生长的13个甘蔗品种的RLD分为四种模式。在6和8 MAP评估时，甘蔗品种改变了其根系分布模式。KK3是最主要和最有趣的，因为它在干旱和干旱地区均表现出较高的产量，在较低土壤层的根长密度较高。