Effect of planting geometry and nitrogen application through fertigation on production and quality of sugarcane

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2009–10 and 2010–11 to study the effect of planting geometry and nitrogen levels on growth, yield and quality of sugarcane. Two spacings (S1-paired row planting 75/105 cm and S2-normal planting 90 cm) and four nitrogen levels applied through fertigation (D1-100% RDN, D2-75% RDN, D3-50% RDN and D4-Farmers practice) were tested in strip-plot design with three replications. Results revealed that paired row planting (75/105 cm) registered significantly higher cane girth, cane weight, millable cane population and cane yield over normal planting (90 cm) in both the years. Application of 100% recommended dose of nitrogen through fertigation was found superior than the other treatments with respect to yield attributes and cane yield during both the years. Quality of sugarcane was not influenced by crop geometry and nitrogen fertigation levels