BASAL APPLICATION OF POTASSIUM NUTRITION ENHANCES CANE YIELD, JUICE QUALITY AND NET RETURNS OF SUGARCANE (Saccharum Officinarum L.)

Potassium deficiency and low rainfall are severely affecting the stiffness of stem in sugarcane and resistance against harsh weather conditions prevailing in southern Punjab. Application of potassium can be helpful in ameliorating these hazardous effects. To evaluate the influence of potassium a field study was conducted for two successive years at Fatima Sugar Research and Development Center (FSRDC) Fatima Sugar Mill, Muzaffar Garh, (30.07 degrees N, 71.19 degrees E and 122 m altitude) Punjab, Pakistan. For this purpose, sugarcane cultivar HSF-242 was sown during 2012-14. Treatments comprised of two sources of Potassium (i.e. SOP and MOP) and four levels of potassium application @ zero, 75, 125 and 175 kg ha(-1). The agronomic traits were significantly affected by the application of two potassium (K) sources at different levels during both years of experimentation. The highest cane yield (131.55 and 138.74 t ha(-1)) was achieved with 175 kg K2O ha(-1) while, lowest (45.48 and 52.93 t ha(-1)) in control treatments during both the years. The quality parameters were also significantly affected by K applications during both the years. Higher CCS percentage (13.81 and 13.01) was noted in treatments applied with 125 kg K2O ha(-1). The least CCS percentage (10.88 and 10.36) was noted in control treatments during both the years. An increased CSR (12.99%) was noted in treatments applied with 125 kg K2O ha(-1) while, the lowest (10.23%) in control treatments during both years. On the basis of two years study, it is recommended that Potassium fertilizer at the rate of 175 kg K2O ha(-1) in the form of SOP are considered pleasant to achieve the higher yield and quality of sugarcane crop.