Effect of Source and Rate of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizers on the Growth, Yield and Quality of Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted on the Sugarcane Research Center Farm at Guneid during seasons 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 as plant cane crop. The soil was clayey vertisol with moderate chemical fertility. The objective of the study was to evaluate effect of source and rate of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on the yield and quality of sugarcane. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with seven treatments and four replications. The results showed significant differences between treatments at (P>0.05) level for cane and sugar yield (tons/ha). The highest cane and sugar yield values; (160.9–164.1) and (17.3-15.9) were recorded from treatment (T2) which contained di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and ammonium sulphate (AS) while the lowest cane and sugar yield (tons/ha) values; (131.9-139.1) and (13.5-13.5) were recorded from the control (T1) which was triple super phosphate (TSP) and urea in the two seasons, respectively. All treatments with di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and Ammonium sulphate (AS) fertilizers recorded higher cane and sugar yield (ton/ha) than the control (T1) in the two seasons of the study.