Effect of spacing, seed rate and nitrogen on growth yield and quality of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)

A field experiment was conducted during 1990-91 to 1992-93 to study the effect of 6 different row spacings-cum-seed rate and 3 nitrogen levels (75, 150 and 225 kg N/ha)on the growth, yield and quality of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). At narrow spacing (30 : 60 cm) cane yield (765.07 q/ha) increased significantly. Tiller production, plant height, millable canes, length of internodes, cane height/plant, girth were also significantly increased with same treatments (30 : 60 cm + 8,000 three-budded setts/ha). Although seed rate-cum-spacing did not affect quality of cane juice, but maximum sucrose (%) in juice was observed at 30 : 60 cm row spacing. Sugar (%) as well as yield were also maximum with the same treatments. The growth, yield and yield attributes were significantly influenced by varying levels of nitrogen. Application of 225 kg N/ha gave maximum cane yield (751.93 q/ha) and sugar (86.08 q/ha). Sucrose and commercial cane sugar (%) decreased with every increase of nitrogen levels, whereas sugar yield increased with increasing levels of nitrogen.