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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

Some Morphological Characteristics of Sugarcane Plant Associated with Fertilization Responses.

(Khmer Republic), Master of Science (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Thesis Abstract:

 

A 10-month experiment was conducted on ten sugarcane varieties under four fertilization levels to determine important morphological and physiological characters and their relation to sugar yield and its various components.

Plots were laid out in split-plot design and replicated twice with fertilizer treatments on main plots and varieties on subplots. Each subplot contained 10 rows each 6.3 m long and spaced at 0.75 m interval. Single-eyed cuttings were used, spaced at 0.30 m along rows.

Results clearly indicated the importance of leaf area index (LAI), particularly at six months, in determining cane yield. Fertilization to maximize LAI severely restricted stalk number.

Fertilization appeared to influence LAI mainly through leaf elongation and increase in leaf area per plant. Leaf elongation was found desirable at low but not at fertility levels.

Phosphorus content per unit leaf area (PLA) assumed great importance at high fertility levels in terms of its effect on both cane yield and quality.

Cane quality was not depressed by high fertilizer levels, provided a balanced application rate of NPK was observed.

Existing Philippine cane varieties vary in performance depending on fertilization status; hence variety selection in relation to input management level would significantly contribute to production efficiency.