NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF SUGARCANE ON THE BASIS OF IRRIGATION WATER QUALITY AND SOIL TESTS

Abstract

The nutritional role of canal and tube well waters in the supply of potassium (K+ ) and boron (B) to sugarcane crop was undertaken in Sargodha and Jhang districts of Punjab, Pakistan. In total, 54 tube well and 25 canal water samples were collected from different localities of aforesaid districts. Boron contents in tube well waters were two to three times more than canal water and K+ was also present in more quantity in tube well waters. Response of sugarcane to K+ and B fertilization along with irrigation water quality was also investigated in different location during 2005 to 2008. Concluding upon the whole investigations, it was found that B and K+ in irrigation water masked the role of these fertilizers in improving sugarcane yield and quality at some locations whereas they improved cane yield and net income from sugarcane at other locations. Hence assessment of these elements in tube well and canal waters could assist in economizing their use.