Determination of optimal rate of nitrogen for chewing sugarcane production in the southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria

Abstract

Field trials were conducted to determine the optimal rate of nitrogen (N) for chewing sugarcane production in the Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria at the upland sugarcane experimental field of National Cereals Research Institute Badeggi (9°45'N, (06°7'E) in 1998 and 1999 wet seasons. In both the years 60kgN/ha resulted in significantly reduced lower growth parameters (germination percentage, tiller count, stalk length and yield tonne / ha). While among the four rates of 120, 180, 240 and 300kgN/ha there was no significant difference as the growth parameters and yield were significantly comparable.

Effects of Rate and Split Application of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Yield of Two Sugarcane Varieties from Ratoon Crop

“…Though this value is slightly greater than the ones obtained with other N rates, the difference is not significant. Gana (2008) established that for application of more than 120 kg N ha -1 , there was no significant difference between cane yields. For variety D 8484, cane yields averagely reached 127.1 TCH with application of 60 kg Nha -1 .…”

“…A similar establishment was made by Thornburn et al (2001) who reported that cane yield was not affected with increasing N and Wiedenfeld (2000) who also depicted that rate of N application did not affect cane yields in the plant crop. Elsewhere, Rattey and Hogarth (2001) and Muchow et al (1995) reported that sugarcane quality reduced with increasing levels of N. Moreover, Gana (2008) established that for application of more than 120 kg N ha -1 , there was no significant difference between sugarcane yields. In a study carried out in Egypt, Ahmed et al (2009) showed that millable cane yields significantly responded to the used Nfertilizer levels.…”