16. Response of sugarcane to different doses of Zn at various growth stages
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Abstract
Sugarcane crop has become a more important crop of Pakistan with the emerged crises of sugar in the past few years. The potential crop yield is restricted because of many factors e.g. imbalanced use of macro fertilizers, less application of micronutrients, diseases, insects and pest attacks etc. Micronutrients are usually ignored by most of our farming community. A field trial was performed at Sugar Crops Research Institute Mardan in order to assess the effect of different times of application of Zinc Sulfate (ZnSO4) as zinc (Zn) on the sugarcane crop. Four treatments (T1: control with no application of Zinc Sulfate, T2: Soil application of ZnSO4, T3: Foliar application at tillering stage 1.5 kg ha -1 and T4: Foliar application with the 2nd dose of Nitrogenous Fertilizer) were replicated thrice at SCRI in the year 2010-12. Results showed highly significant yields and millable cane for the foliar applications at the later stages of growth. The millable cane significantly increased with foliar application at time of 2nd dose of nitrogenous fertilizer i.e. 8.71 numbers of millable canes m-2. Similarly, highest yield was recorded by foliar application with the 2nd dose of N fertilizer with a value of 69.50 t ha-1. It is therefore concluded that the micronutrient Zn must be applied at later stages of sugarcane growth in order to get more yield and also help getting good ratoon crop.
Keywords: Sugarcane ratoon crop; Zn sulphate; Micronutrient effect on growth