Response of Sugarcane to Varying Nitrogen Rate and Application Timings Under Semi-Arid Climate

To enhance crop yields, nitrogen is one of essential basic nutritional elements that enable any plant to withstand in stressful conditions. An experiment was carried out investigate the impact N rates and its application timings on growth, development sugarcane yield at farm area Sugarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan for two consecutive seasons (spring 2014 2015). Four Nitrogen (N) viz.170, 227, 284 341 kg ha-1were applied four different schedules i.e. T1= 45-75-90 days after planting (DAP); T2= 45-75-90-120 DAP;T3= 45-75-90-120-150 DAP T4= 45-75-90-120-150-180 DAP, RCBD having three replications. The results revealed treatments significantly affected quantitative traits like tillers plant-1, cane girth, millable count, sugar growth parameters leaf index (LAI), duration (LAD), seasonal total dry matter accumulation (TDM) rate (CGR). Interactive effect also significant number canes LAD. Treatments did not affect length during course study. Growth viz. LAI, LAD CGR showed improvement by higher highest values were observed when late season six splits. A close positive linear relationship noticed between dose & time application. It may be concluded from present study splitting till 180 (upto ha-1) can improve spring planted under semi-arid climatic conditions