RESPONSE OF PROMISING MIDLATE MATURING SUGARCANE VARIETIES TO DIFFERENT DOSES OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER

Field trials were conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Perumallapalle, during 2009-10 and 2010-11 to evaluate the response of promising mid-late maturing sugarcane varieties to different doses of nitrogen fertilizer. Four mid-late varieties, viz. 83V15, 97R383, 97R401 and 2002V48 were tested at four nitrogen levels, i.e. 75, 100, 125 and 150% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN: 224 kg/ha). Application of nitrogen @ 125% RDN produced significantly greater values for number of millable canes, stalk yield and sugar yield. However, the effect of nitrogen levels on juice quality parameters was not significant. Hence, application of nitrogen @ 280 kg/ha is the most economically viable fertilizer level for the plant cane in sandy loam soils of Southern zone of Andhra Pradesh. Among the varieties, 2002V48 and 83V15 responded well to the applied nitrogen and recorded higher cane and sugar yields.