Effect of trench spacing and micronutrients on growth and yield of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)

Abstract

Conventional planting methods, poor management practices and imbalanced use of nutrients are the major constraints responsible for low cane and sugar yield of sugarcane. A field trial was conducted during spring 2007-08 and 2008-09 to evaluate the effect of different trench spacing and doses of Zn and Fe on production of sugarcane. The treatments comprised; trench spacing (75, 90 and 120 cm apart) and foliar application of Zn+Fe @ 2.5+5, 5+10 and 7.5+15 Kg ha -1, along with a check. Different trench spacings and levels of Zn and Fe significantly affected the quantitative parameters of sugarcane including number of internodes, cane diameter and stripped cane weight. Higher crop growth rate of 11.87 and 11.74 g m -2 d -1 was recorded in 120 cm spaced trenches and with foliar application of 5.0+10 kg ha -1 of Zn+Fe. Crop planted at 120 cm spaced trenches produced maximum yield of stripped cane 104.6 and 112.8 t ha -1; while application of Zn+Fe @ 5.0+10 kg ha -1 gave stripped cane yield of 106.4 & 110.4 t ha -1 in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, respectively. Maximum net return of USD 1048 and USD 1511 was obtained from crop grown at 120 cm spaced trenches with foliar application of zinc and iron @ 5+10 kg ha -1 during both the years under study. In conclusion, sugarcane crop can be planted at 120 cm spaced trenches and fertilized with 5+10 kg ha -1 of Zn+Fe for enhanced yield and higher economic returns.

Publication Title

Australian Journal of Crop Science

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