Potassium and Water-Deficient Conditions Influence the Growth, Yield and Quality of Ratoon Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) in a Semi-Arid Agroecosystem

Groundwater and soil potassium deficiencies are present in northern India. Sugarcane is a vital crop the Indian Punjab; it grown on approximately 91,000 hectares with an average yield of 80 tonnes ha?1 sugar recovery rate 9.59%. The role (K) fertilizer under both sufficient deficient irrigation ratoon sugarcane crops not well documented. We conducted split-plot cane experiment during 2020–2021 at Gurdaspur Regional Research Station Punjab Agricultural University, India, K-deficient soils. Main treatments were fully irrigated (I1) water stressed (I0) conditions, sub-treatments reflecting K application rates 0 (M1), 67 (M2), 133 (M3), 200 (M4) kg ha?1. performance was assessed terms growth, productivity, quality incidence key insect pests. At harvest, trends growth parameters I1 improved over I0 treatment, height (+12.2%), diameter (+3.3%), number internodes (+5.4%), biomass (+7.6%) (+5.9%) all higher, although little significant difference observed between treatments. Ratoon 57.1 ha?1; water-stressed 54.7 In parameters, measured 12 months after harvesting initial seed crop, values Brix (+3.6%), pol (+3.9%), commercial percentage (+4.0%) extractable (+2.8%) higher than plot. Irrigated also had significantly lower two pests: top borer (Scirpophaga excerptalis) reduced by 18.5% stalk (Chilo auricilius) 21.7%. M3 M4 resulted highest lowest pests compared to other K-fertilizer Economic return increased increasing dosage. Under potassium-deficient conditions region north recommended improve yield, economic returns for farmers.