G.B. 2,202, 536A Light stabilizers

Abstract

The high aridity index of Pakistan coupled with rapidly decreasing surface water resources demand supplemental irrigation for profitable agricultural production. An inadequate irrigation water supply is one of the major bottlenecks in enhancing domestic cane production in Pakistan. To discover appropriate water conservation techniques to combat irrigation deficit in the country, a field experiment was conducted with autumn sugarcane cv. HSF 240 as a test crop at two sites: Location-I (silty clay) and Location-II (sandy loam soil) during 2003–2004 and 2004–2005. The experiment was laid out according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with factorial arrangement in four replications through a net plot size was of 24 m2. The available soil moisture depletion levels were ASMDL1 (20%), ASMDL2 (40%), ASMDL3 (60%), and ASMDL4 (80%), while planting patterns were G-60 (60 cm), G-75 (75 cm) spaced single row planting patterns, G-30/90 (30/90 cm), and G-30/120 (30/120 cm) spaced paired row strip planting patterns. The pooled data of both locations showed maximum performance in terms of stripped cane yield, sugar yield, sugar recovery percentage, and net field benefit at 40% ASMD level followed by 60, 20, and a minimum of 80%. So far as planting pattern was concerned, maximum output was noted with 30/90 cm spaced paired row strip planting pattern followed by 75, 60, and 30/120 cm. The interactive effects of ASMD levels and planting patterns on agro physiological traits of sugarcane were significant at both locations. The maximum response in terms of plant height, weight per stripped cane, individual stripped cane length, cane diameter, unstripped cane yield, stripped cane yield and sugar yield, leaf area index (LAI), leaf area duration (LAD), net assimilation rate (NAR), harvest index (HI), sugar recovery percentage, and net field benefit were recorded with 40% ASMDL×30/90 cm spaced paired row strip planting followed by 40% ASMDL×75 cm and 40% ASMDL×60 cm plots, respectively. Therefore, maximum economic benefit could be obtained from sugarcane crop by irrigating it at the 40% ASMD level and sowing at 30/90 cm spaced paired row strips under arid conditions on silty clay and sandy loam soils.