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Sugarcane

Nutrient Management

Introduction Nutrient Requirements Role Of Major Nutrient

Elements Fertilizers Efficiency Of Fertilizers Integrated Nutrient
Management Micronutrient Deficiency Management

Nutrient Management

Sugarcane is a giant crop producing a huge quantity of biomass

and therefore its nutrient needs are high. A 12 month crop on an
average, produces 45 tonnes of total dry matter per hectare (=
100 tonnes of cane; 10 tonnes of sugar).

An average of 1.0 kg N, 0.6 kg P2 O5 and 2.25 kg K2O are

removed by a tonne of sugarcane. Thus a 100 tonne crop per
hectare removes 100,60,225 kg N, P2 O5 and K2O from the soil
respectively.

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Nutrient requirements

As already stated, N, P and K requirement of sugarcane is quite

large an average of 100, 60 and 225 kg N, P2O5 and K2O per
hectare is actually used up by the crop to produce around 100
tonnes of cane yield. Dosage must be decided based on the crop
requirement, contribution from the soils and organic manures
applied, likely losses of the applied nutrients by means of fixation,
leaching, volatilization etc.

Recommended fertilizer dosage

Dosage (Kg/ha)
Area N P2O5 K 2O
Coastal and 275 62.5 112.5
canal irrigated
area
Well irrigated 225 62.5 112.5
area
Jaggery area 175 62.5 112.5
'Soil based' recommendation

It is best to follow field based approach to decide about the

dosage. This needs information on soil nutrient status, variety to
be grown (high yielding or moderate yielding), soil reaction,
availability of organic manures etc.

Soil samples from the field concerned may be drawn and tested
through soil testing laboratories of the Agricultural Departments or
other reliable agencies and recommendation obtained.

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Role of major nutrient elements

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is the key nutrient element influencing sugarcane yield

and quality. It is required for vegetative growth, i.e., tillering,
foliage formation, stalk formation, stalk growth (internode
formation, internode elongation, increase in stalk girth and weight)
and root growth. Since vegetative growth is directly related to
yield in sugarcane, the role of nitrogen is paramount to build yield.

Deficiency of nitrogen causes paleness of foliage, early leaf

senescence, thinner and shorter stalk, and longer but thinner
roots.

Excess N is also harmful. It prolongs vegetative growth, delays

maturity and ripening, increases reducing sugar content in juice
and thus lowering juice purity, and increases soluble N in juice
affecting clarification.

Due to increased succulence the crop becomes susceptible to

lodging and pest attack.

Phosphorus

Normal cane development depends greatly on the presence of

phosphates in soluble, plant absorbable form in the soil.
Phosphorus requirement is relatively less than N and K.

Phosphorus plays a very significant role in sugarcane production.

It stimulates root growth and is required for adequate tillering. It
interacts with nitrogen and thus influences ripening.

Deficiency of phosphorus leads to reduced tillering, delay in

canopy closure and thus leads to greater weed infestation. Stalk
elongation is also affected.

Adequate presence of phosphorus in cane juice, about 300-400

ppm, is necessary for proper clarification while processing.

Potassium

Pottasium requirement by the crop in general is greater than

nitrogen or phosphorus. For sugar synthesis and its translocation
to the storage tissue, potassium is highly important.

Potassium gives resistance to sugarcane against pests and

disease attack and lodging. It helps sugarcane under moisture
stress by maintaining cell turgidity.

It has a balancing effect on both nitrogen and phosphorus.

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Fertilizers

Urea 46%N
Diammonium phosphate (DAP) 18% N and 46% P2O5
Super phosphate 16% P2O5
Murite of potash 60% K2O

The Quantity of fertilizer to be applied is calculated as follows:

Fertilizer to be applied =Dosage of nutrient to be applied x 100 /

% nutrient content in the fertilizer

Methods of fertilizer application

Phosphorus should be applied in bands right below the root zone.

This could be achieved by applying the phosphatic fertilizer in the
furrow bottom before planting sugarcane setts and mixing slightly
with soil.

Nitrogen and potassium fertilizers are given in split doses, applied

in bands. An important precaution is to cover the fertilizer soon
after application, because under hot weather condition huge loss
of nitrogen takes place due to volatilization.

To cover the fertilizer, partial earthing is done after first top

dressing and full earthing up is done after second top dressing.

Drip Fertigation for yield maximization in sugarcane crop

This is the popular method developed by TNAU getting spread

among the farmers.

Details of Technology
1. 1. Planting setts obtained from 7-8months old healthy nurseries
and planted in paired row planting system with the spacing of
30x30x30/ 150cm.

2. 2. Nine setts per meter per row have to be planted on either sides
of the ridge thus making it as four row planting system.

3. 3. 12mm drip laterals have to be placed in the middle ridge of

each furrow with the lateral spacing of 240cm & 8 Lph clog
free drippers should be placed with a spacing of 75cm on the
lateral lines. The lateral length should not exceed more than
30-40cm.

4. 4. Phosphorus @ 62.5 kg ha-1 has to be applied as basal at the

time of planting.

5. 5. Nitrogen and Potassium @ 275:112.5kg ha-1 have to be

injected into the system as urea and muriate of potash by using
"Ventury" assembly in 10-12 equal splits starting from 15 to
150-180 days after planting.

6. 6. Low or medium in nutrient status soil to be given with 50

percent additional dose of Nitrogen and Potassium.

7. 7. Irrigation is given once in three days based on the evapo

transpiration demand of the crop.

Benefits

1. 1. Cane yield 175-200 t /ha which is 70-96t/ ha higher than

average yield.

2. 2. Saves 25-50 per cent irrigation water.

3. 3. Can either go for additional area under cane cultivation or

double the yield with same area with the saved water.

4. 4. Irrigation water saved and produce more cane per unit of

electricity used.
5. 5. Irrigation, fertilizer application, weed management cost reduced
considerably.

Time of fertilizer application

Nitrogen requirement of sugarcane is greatest during the tillering

and the early grand growth phase. Most of the N uptake by the
crop takes place within the first six months.

During germination external nitrogen supply is not required.

Therefore, basal application, i.e., application at planting, is not
required in most cases.

The tillering phase needs nitrogen for tiller formation and growth.
Therefore, the first application of nitrogen should be at the start of
the tillering phase.

Crop requirement for nitrogen is higher at the beginning of the

grand growth phase or the end of tillering phase. This facilitates
cane formation, checks tiller mortality and promotes cane growth.
Therefore, second application for an Eksali crop is done at 90
120 days period.

Late application of nitrogen beyond 120 days in a 12 month crop

will have adverse effect on juice quality. There will be continued
vegetative growth, late tiller formation, reduced pol% juice,
increase in soluble nitrogen in juice, water shoot formation and
such other problems affecting sugar recovery.

Potassium applications are usually done along with nitrogen

application. This is because of better utilization of nitrogen by the
crop in the presence of potassium. Therefore potassium is applied
along with nitrogen on 45th and 90th day.

Phosphorus application should be done before planting right

below the setts in the root zone. this is because, phosphorus is a
highly immobile nutrient unlike N or K. It should be available right
near the roots for its effective uptake.

It gets fixed in the soil quickly and therefore there is limited

chance for losses other than fixation. The fixed phosphorus is not
lost, but will be available slowly over the period of time.

Phosphorous need is greater in the formative phase of the crop.

Tillering is seriously affected when phosphorus is defecient. Thus
the optimum time of soil application of phosphorus is just before
planting right below the setts.

Fertilizer applications should always be followed by irrigation. The

time of application should be adjusted to irrigation water
availability.

Irrigations given after fertilizer application should not be

excessive, because excess irrigation will leach out considerable
quantities of the applied nutrients.

For early and short duration varieties application of nitrogen and

potassium has been found optimum in 3 equal splits on 30, 60
and 90 days.

Ratoons in general require early application of fertilizers.

Application of 25 per cent excess N, a fortnight ahead and

withholding irrigation during September second fortnight arrests
flowering/arrowing in cane without affecting sugar quality.

Stubble shaving and shoulder breaking, application of 25 per cent

additional basal dose of N encourages uniform and better
sprouting of sugarcane stubbles.

Phosphorus needs to be applied as basal dose at planting and N

and K need to be applied in three equal splits on 30th, 60th and
90th day of planting in heavy soils (clayey soils) and in four equal
splits on 30th 60th, 90th and 120th day of planting in light textured
(sandy) soils.
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Improving the efficiency of fertilizer use

Fertilizers are the critical inputs, but are becoming costly.

Improvements in their efficient use is important.

Nitrogen Pocket manuring

Pocket manuring is an improved method of fertilizer application

intended to improve fertilizer use efficiency and check loss of
nutrients. Usually top dressing is done through pocket manuring.

In this method 10cm deep hole is made around 7 cm away from

the sugarcane clumps using a sharp stick, and fertilizer is placed
in it and then covered by pressing the soil. the pockets could be at
30 45 cm spacing.

To apply one hectare of sugarcane about 8 -10 labourers are

required. A simple hand operated tool has been developed by the
Mohanur Co-operative Sugar Mills in Tamil Nadu to apply
manures by pocket method.

Neem cake blending

Neem cake powder is mixed with urea in the proportion 4:1 and
then applied to the field. Neem cake and urea are taken in the
proportion mentioned in a gunny bag, some quantity of kerosene
is added to wet the contents and then they are mixed by swinging
to and fro.

The mixture is then spread in shade and dried overnight and

applied on the following day. The neem cake blended urea
behaves like a slow-release fertilizer.

Split application

Split applications in small quantities at critical stages of crop

growth would help improve fertilizer use efficiency. For early
maturing and short duration varieties applications at 30, 60 and 90
days in equal splits is ideal.

Phosphorus

A large proportion of the applied phosphorus gets transformed

into unavailable form by combining with other elements. Fixed
phosphorus will be available slowly. To reduce phosphorus
fixation, correction of soil pH is important.

Addition of organic matter, green manuring, reclamation of soil by

amendments (i.e., gypsum application in high pH soils, addition of
lime in acid soils) and crop residue addition will help improve
phosphorus availability.

Application in the root zone is important to overcome the problem

of low mobility and for better root growth.

Potassium

Frequent light applications are better than heavy single

application to check leaching and to avoid luxury consumption
and fixation.

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Integrated Nutrient Management (INM)

In INM approach, chemical, organic and biological

fertilizers/manures are used in suitable combinations,
complementing each other and often producing synergistic effect
to optimise input use and maximise production and sustain the
same without impairing crop quality ,soil health or any other
environmental aspects.

Components of INM

Source of nutrients

Chemical : Fertilizers
Organic: FYM, compost, pressmud, crop residues, byproducts,
effluents etc.

Biological : Bio-fertilizers, green manures, leguminous companion

and rotational crops, crop rotations.

Soil : Native nutrient available and fixed. Biological fixation by

native microbes.

Optimum dosages of nutrients and combination of sources

Times of application

Correct method of application

Economics, efficient use

Environmental effects

Bio-Fertilizers

Important biological nitrogen fixing agents in sugarcane system

are Azospirillum, Azotobacter and Acetobacter. For phosphorus
solubilization Phospho bacterin is useful.

Azospirillum brasilense, the sugarcane N fixing bacteria has been

widely tested and proved effective. It can contribute 50 75 kg
N/ha.

Azospirillum culture is mixed with powdered FYM, or compost or

pressmud and then applied to the base of the sugarcane plant.

Sufficient soil moisture is essential. Therefore, after application

irrigation should follow.

Azospirillum and chemical fertilizer should not be applied together

as chemical fertilizer may affect the activity of the microbes.

It has been found that Azospirillum is effective under low inorganic

fertilizer application levels. Azotobacter has also been found
useful for sugarcane.
Another important biological N fixing is Acetobacter
diazotrophicus. It can substantially reduce inorganic N application
rates to the extent of 50%. It is referred to as "black urea".

Phosphorus solubilizing microbes

Several bacteria and fungi are known to solubilize fixed

phosphorus and make it available. Bacillus megatherium variety
phosphaticum known as phospho bacterin has been found to be
quite effective.

This could be applied at 10 kg culture mixture per hectare. It is

applied in two doses around planting to 3 4 weeks and then at
around 60 75 days after planting.

About 25% saving in phosphorus dosage has been achieved by

this.

The cane yield recorded with the application of 8 kg/ha of

phosphobacteria and 60 per cent P2O5 as Super phosphate is on
par with the yield recorded by the application of 8 kg/ha of
phosphobacteria and 100 per cent P2O5 as mussorie rock
phosphate. Similarly, incorporation of 6 kg/ha Azotobacter with
225 N/ha recorded equal cane yield as that of 275 kg N/ha as
urea alone.

Pressmud

Pressmud is the most important sugar industry by product

useful for sugarcane nutrition. It contains substantial amounts of
phosphorus, nitrogen and other nutrient elements.

It could be composted and used at rates 10 15 tonnes per

hectare. However, very heavy application may affect soil physical
properties.

Effluents

Sugar factory effluent water can be used for irrigating sugarcane

after proper treatment and dilution with positive effect.

Sugarcane trash

About 40% of the biomass produced by sugarcane is trash.

Sugarcane trash contains about 0.35% N, 0.13% P2O5 and
0.65% K2O.
Trash can help enrich soil with organic matter and add
considerable quantities of the nutrients. Trash can be composted
and used for sugarcane.

Green Manure

Growing green manures like sunnhemp, daincha as intercrops in

sugarcane adds 15 t/ha of green manure when incorporated in
soil and increase cane yield by 10-15 t/ha.

New Biofertilizer for Sugarcane : TNAU Biofert - 1

Details of technology : TNAU Biofert-1 is recommended for sett

treatment (2kg/ha) and soil application (2.4kg/ha each at 30,60
and 90 days after planting) as that Azospirilum.

Benefits : Four to 17 percent increased cane yield

Application of 75 per cent of recommended nitrogen with TNAU

biofert-1 will increase the cane yield compared to 100 percent N.

Five to 26 percent increase cane yield is obtained due to the new

biofertilizer over the Azospirilum.

This new biofertilizer enhances the growth and cane yield and
found more suitable for sugarcane than Azospirilum.

Economics : The minimum benefit / cost ratio is 2:1.

Fertilizer combination for better yield

Integration of 210kg N as Neem coated urea + 25t press mud +

10 kg each of Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria/ha recorded
higher yield.
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Micronutrient Deficiency Management

Intensive sugarcane cultivation and inadequate supply of organic

matter has led to some micronutrient problems in sugarcane
cultivation.

Iron

Iron is an important micronutrient which aids in

photosynthesis.The occurrence of Iron chlorosis
is very common in India.

Excessive calcium influences iron chlorosis and

hence it is frequently seen in calcareous soils
and is referred as lime-induced chlorosis.

Excess of K, P, Zn, Cu and Mn cause

precipitation of ferrous compounds leading to
lack of available iron mobility in plants.

Application of 100kg of Ferrous sulphate with 12.5 t/ha of farm

yard manure/compost basally or spray of 5kg of ferrous
sulphate+2.5kg urea in 500 litres of water/ ha on the foliage, 2 to
3 times at 7 to 10 days interval helps to manage iron chlorosis.

Occurrence of Iron deficiency (Iron chlorosis) in iron deficient

soils/ratoon sugarcane having stresses could be corrected by
spraying of 5 kg Ferrous sulphate + 5 kg Urea dissolved in 500
litres of water per hectare of 15 days interval till deficiency
symptoms disappear.

Zinc

Zinc is a necessary component of many enzymes systems

regulating metabolic activities.
The deficiency symptoms include shortening of internodes,
chlorotic young tillers and necrotic leaves from tip downwards.
Veinal chlorosis and cessation of growth of terminal bud takes
place in acute conditions.

Soil application of zinc sulphate at 50kg/ ha or spraying 0.5 per

cent ( 5 gm / litre) at 15 days interval for four times rectifies the
deficiency.

Copper

Copper plays an important role in protein and chlorophyll

synthesis and oxidation-reduction processes. In salt affected soils,
copper uptake is prevented.

The deficiency symptoms are droopy top, failure of spindle to

unroll and softness of stalk. To correct copper deficiency, 10kg of
copper sulphate/ha may be applied.

Boron

Boron aids in sucrose translocation, improves tillering and juice

quality.

Deficiency leads to distortion of growing spindle, curling of leaves

and minute spindle-shaped watery spots in young leaves.

Borax spray at 0.02 gram per litre corrects deficiency problem.

Manganese

It aids in certain oxidation process in plant metabolism,

development of meristematic tissues as well as synthesis and
breakdown of proteins through increased enzyme activity.

The symptoms of manganese deficiency are similar to iron. The

chlorotic stripes rarely extend over the entire length of leaf.

Soil application of manganese sulphate at 4 kg /ha or foliar

application of 0.25 to 0.5 per cent at weekly intervals rectifies the
deficiency.

Sulphur

Sulphur plays an important role in the formation of chlorophyll.

Sulphur deficiency symptoms are similar to those of nitrogen
deficiency at early stages.

Later on differentiated by light purplish tinge in the light yellow-

green colour. The leaves become narrow and shorter in length,
stalks with shortened internodes.

Superphosphate application itself can meet the sulphur

requirement since it contains 12 per cent sulphur.

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