Response of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) to potash

A field experiment was conducted during 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93 to study the response of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) to the graded levels and application time of potassium. Pooled data indicated that cane yield and single cane weight was the maximum at 50 kg K2O/ha and the yield response to K was quadratic. The optimum and maximum levels of potash were estimated as 57.5 and 60.9 kg/ha with the corresponding estimated yield of 89.80 and 89.82 tonnes/ha respectively. Application of K in 2 equal splits, at onset of monsoon and cessation of rains (T-4), recorded the maximum cane yield (89.73 tonnes/ha) and number of millable cane (85.01 thousand/ha). Interaction of K and its time of application was significant and highest cane yield of 94.6 tonnes/ha was obtained with the application of 50 kg K2O/ha in 2 equal splits, i.e. 50% at the time of sowing and 50% at cessation of rains (T-3) The juice quality remained unaffected due to various treatments.