Effect of phosphorus and zinc nutrition on yield and yield attributes of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) in calcareous soil of foothill region of Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment with 15 treatment combinations comprising 3 levels of phosphorus (0, 50 and 100 kg P2O5/ha) and 5 levels of zinc (0, 12.5, 25.0, 50 kg/ha and spray of 0.5% zinc on day 90, was conducted during 1993-94 and 1994-95 in randomized block design with 4 replications. The soil of experimental plot was sandy loam with pH 7.7. having 12.5 kg/ha available phosphorus and 0.74 mg/ha zinc. An increase of 12.0 and 16.2% in cane yield was observed due to 100 kg P2O5 and 25 kg zinc/ha respectively. The increase was on account of higher number of millable canes, weight per cane, cane length and cane girth. Zinc at 50 kg/ha proved detrimental to sugarcane crop.