Growth, Yield and Sucrose Percent Response of Sugarcane to Zinc and Boron Application

Abstract

S ugarcane (Saccharum officinarium L.) is a cash produce of our country (GoP, 2018). Sugarcane is also cultivated worldwide in more than 105 countries (Hussain et al., 2015). According to area under cultivation, Pakistan is the 5 th position in cane acreage and production and almost 8 th biggest consumer of sugar in the world (FAO, 2017). Cane is the main and overwhelming raw material used. It could be a key Abstract | Zinc (Zn) and boron (B) are restrictive micronutrients in production regions of the sugarcane in Pakistan. This study focused on hypothesis that application of both Zn and B play a key role in getting better sugarcane yield and superiority. Experiment was conducted under field condition during 2016-17 and repeated in 2017-18 at Sugarcane Research Institute, Tandojam, Sindh, Pakistan. Crop in 1 st year was planted on an experimental field by shifting on another adjacent field in 2 nd year, which was fallow. The sugarcane variety PSTJ-41 was used for the study of Zn and B as soil and foliar application. Zn levels included: 0 kg ha -1 (control), 15 k.g ha -1 (soil application) and 0.2% (foliary application). Boron levels consisted: 0 kg ha -1 (control), 1 k.g ha -1 (soil application) and 0.1% (foliary application). Soil application of Znn nd B ware done eat thee tine off sowng, whereas, foliar applications of both were done as spray over foliage after three months of planting when plant height was about 75 cm. Application of Zn was done in the shape of Zinc Sulphate (ZnSO 4 ) whereas, Boron in the shape of Borax (Na 2 B 4 O 7. 10H 2 O). The statistical analysis of pooled data of two years experiments indicated that growth, yield, quality and plant nutrients contents of sugarcane were affected appreciably (P<0.05) by Zn and B as judged to check plots. Zn at 15 kg ha -1 (soil applied) resulted in enhanced traits particularly cane yield (111.9 t ha -1 ), brix (23.1%), and plant nutrients content such as N (2.4 %), K (0.7 %), Zn (68.5 ug g -1 ) and B (31.7 ug g -1 ). Similarly, foliar application of B at 0.1 % produced highest attributes specifically cane yield (107.4 t ha -1 ), brix (21.9%), and plant nutrients content i.e. N (2.3 %), K (0.7 %), Zn (68.5 ug g -1 ) and B (31.7 ug g -1 ). Amongst interactive effects, the interaction of Zn at 15 k.g ha -1 (soil applied) × B at 0.1 % (foliary applied) gave increased parameters distinctively cane yield (119.0 t ha -1 ), brix (24.0 %), and plant nutrients content viz. N (2.5 %), K (0.9 %), Zn (73.9 u.g g -1 ) and B (35.0 ug g -1 ). However, it is supposed that integrated grouping of Zn at 15 k.g ha -1 (soil applied) and B at 0.1% (foliar applied) proved the best combination for attaining highest yield of sugarcane in agro-ecological conditions of Tandojam.

Effect of Foliar Application of NPK and Micronutrient (Zn and Fe) on the Yield and Quality of Sugarcane Crop

“…). These results can be attributed to the foliar application of micronutrient and NPK, where applied zinc micronutrient is directly involved in the synthesis of tryptophan, a precursor of Indole acetic acid, and the formation of enzymes that are responsible for cell growth and elongation [12]. Normal growth of the plant can be affected due to non-availability of nutrients but foliar application avoids the nutrient fixation and makes it available to the plant on time.…”

Effect of Blended Fertilizer and Levels of Phosphorus on Yield and Juice Quality of Sugarcane at Fincha Sugar Estate, Ethiopia

“…Furthermore, soil application of Zn enhanced cane yield (111.9 t ha -1 ) and the foliar application of B resulted produced highest cane yield attributes specifically cane yield (107.4 t ha-1), brix (21.9%). And its interaction effects increased distinctively cane yield (119.0 t ha-1) and brix (24.0%), [21] (Mangrio1 et al, 2020).…”

“…Total nitrogen was analyzed by the Micro-Kjeldahl method [15]. The pH of the soil was determined in 1:2.5 (weight/ volume) soil to water dilution ratio using a glass electrode attached to digital pH meter [21]. Cation exchange capacity was measured after saturating the soil with 1N ammonium acetate (NH4OAC) and displacing it with 1N NaOAC [5] Available phosphorus was determined using the Olsen method [23].…”

Micronutrient nutrition in sugarcane: a brief review

“…Marangoni et al (2019), working in soil with low clay and organic matter content in Southeast Brazil, described that the application of B in the form of soluble salt (boric acid) in the planting furrow decreases sugarcane productivity in the first and second crop cycle. However, Mangrio et al (2020) reported that foliar application of boron resulted in a higher ton of stem (119.0 t ha -1 ) and soluble solids content (ºBrix) of 23.0%.…”