Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of different levels of fertilizers and biocane on the growth, yield and juice quality of sugar cane Var. SPSG-26 at Agronomic Research Farm, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan during the year 2007 to 2009. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was applied having four replications with a net plot size of 7.5 × 7 m.  The study comprised of five treatments, which are, T₁ = N.P.K; 170:85:85 kg ha^-1, T₂ = biocane 2.5 l ha^-1, T₃ = biocane 2.5 l ha^-1 + N.P.K: 170:85:85 kg ha^-1, T₄ = biocane 2.5 l ha^-1 + N.P.K; 85:42:42 kg ha^-1 and T₅ = biocane 1.25 l ha^-1 + N.P.K; 170:85:85 kg ha^-1. All doses of P, K and ½ N was side dressed at the time of sowing and remaining ½ N was top dressed at the time of 3^rd irrigation while biocane was sprayed as foliar fertilizers in December after seedling establishment. Cultivar SPSG-26 was used as test crop for experiment. All the growth and yield parameter was significantly affected with biocane application along with synthetic fertilizers. Number of millable canes, cane length, cane diameter, number of internodes per cane, internodal length, trash weight, weight per stripped cane, tops weight and stripped can yield, were all significantly affected by the application of  biocane. T3 (2.5 l ha^-1 + N.P.K; 170:85:85 kg ha^-1), gave maximum cane yield (109.5 t ha^-1). The sucrose contents were non-significantly differed among all treatment means and varied between 7.7 to 12.78%. The present study concluded that in the case of sugarcane variety SPSG-26 when applied Biocane 2.5 l ha^-1 + N. P. K; 170:85:85 kg ha^-1 gave higher cane yield. Integrated application of synthetic and bio fertilizers can improve the soil physical conditions, microbial activity, plant growth and helps to sustain the environment, therefore, reducing the fertilizer pollutants into the atmosphere and under ground water.

Key words: Synthetic fertilizers, biocane fertilizer, sugarcane.