Changes in Growth, Yield, Juice Quality and Biochemical Attributes of Sugarcane in Response to Orthosilicic Acid Granules

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of silica granules in the form of orthosilicic acid on growth, yield and juice quality attributes of sugarcane variety CoLk 94184 at IISR experimental farm, Lucknow. The treatments comprised of control (T1), orthosilicic granules @20 (T2), 40 (T3) and 80 kg/ha (T4) and calcium silicate @2 t/ha (T5). Silica application showed higher shoot population, specific leaf weight and total dry matter accumulation relative to control. Cane girth, cane height and cane yield were increased due to silica application. Highest increase in these traits was obtained in T3 treatment. Juice quality attributes, viz. °Brix, sucrose percent juice, juice purity, juice extraction, CCS percent juice, S/R ratio and SPS activity, were higher in silica-treated plants relative to control. CCS increase was recorded about 15.2–31.8 % over control with highest increase (31.8 %) in T4 treatment. Soluble silica content was significantly higher in leaf and root tissues of treated plants. Findings suggest that application of orthosilicic acid may be beneficial in improving cane yield and juice quality of sugar cane.