Growth, yield and quality of mid late and late varieties of sugarcane (Saccharum spp complex hybrid) as influenced by row spacing and fertility levels

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to assess performance of newly developed five mid late and late sugarcane cultivars, i.e. Co 0121, Co 0123, Co 0124 and Co 0241 along with CoS 767(standard) with two row spacing (75 and 90 cm) under three fertility levels, i.e. 75, 100 (N150 P21.8 K41.5) and 125% of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) with plant-ratoon system. Varieties Co 0121 and Co 0241 recorded the maximum and significantly higher cane yield (69.1 and 67.2 tonnes/ha) and commercial cane sugar (10.22 and 9.00 tonnes/ha) in plant and ratoon crop, respectively. In ratoon crop number of millable canes (NMC) and cane yield increased substantially by 10.5 and 10.3 per cent, respectively with 75 cm row spacing. Closer spacing fetched maximum net return (` 24 810 and ` 47 820) with benefit: cost ratio of 1.42 and 2.27 with plant as well as ratoon crop, respectively. Fertility level of 125% RDF, being at par with 100% RDF registered improvement in yield attributes and produced increased cane yield and CCS both from plant as well as ratoon crop over 75% RDF. Except varieties, the quality parameters did not undergo significant variation due to change in row spacing and fertility treatments. Cultivar×fertility level interactions indicated that varieties Co 0121 and Co 0241 were equally productive at normal fertility level of 100% RDF.