EFFECT OF SULFUR FERTILIZER ON SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM OFFICIANARUMSPP.)IN THE HEAVY CLAY SOILS (VERTISOLS) OF (KENANA/ SUDAN)

Abstract

The study was initiated mainly to investigate the response of sugarcane (Saccharumofficianarumspp.) cultivars (TUC75-3 and R 579) to different levels of sulfur in the form of ammonium sulfate fertilizer intheheavy clay soils “vertisols” (Kenana sugar scheme, Sudan). Two identical field experiments were conducted at Research and Development farm, at Kenana Sugar Scheme, during 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons in which five levels of sulfur were tested, namely 0.00, 12.00, 24.00, 36.00, and 48 kg S/fed. The experiments was designed by randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications and 10ten plots each, area of plot was (4 rows × 1.50 m width × 10 m length) and 5m inspection road. sulfur had no significant effects on sugarcane yield and yield components, in both seasons but there was an increase in cane and sugar but it didn’t reach significant level(probably due to high soil exchangeable sulfur or due to high amount of Sulfur fixed by the high clay content). Cane quality (including, Brix % cane, Pol % Cane, Fiber % cane, ERSc. %cane, Purity % cane and Moisture % cane) were also affected by sulfur application in both seasons, but not significantly. From these results, it's clear that sulfur had a positive effect on sugarcane performance on the heavy clay soil under Kenana conditions but the effect didnotreached the significant level for both varieties under investigation (TUC75-3 and R 579) possibly due to other factor, such as soil sulfur content.