EFFICACY OF SPLIT FERTILIZATION FOR SUGARCANE INTERCROPPED WITH POTATO AT TWO IRRIGATION LEVELS

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Regional Sugarcane Research Station (RSRS), Thakurgaon during 2005-06 and 2006-07 cropping seasons to asses effects of different levels of irrigation and split application of N-K fertilizers in sugarcane (var. Isd 36) intercropped with potato (var. Dimond). The intercrop, potato received recommended fertilizer as usual. Application of Urea and Potash (N-K fertilizers) in two splits (B1) produced highest number of tiller, millable cane and also highest yield in both levels of irrigation in both years. Though the difference was not significant over B2 and B3. But irrigation level A1 (six light irrigation with 65 mm effective rainfall) had significant difference over A2 (five comparatively deep irrigation with same effective rainfall). Highest number of tiller (215.3 X 103 ha-1 ), millable cane (114.7 X 103 ha-1 ) and cane yield (109.9 t ha-1 ) were produced by the treatment B1 under A1 level of irrigation in the crop year 2006-07. Hence split application of N-K fertilizers with two equal splits applied at plantation and at 145 days after plantation and also light irrigation, 6 to 7 number with total amount of 460-500 mm including effective rainfall may be preferred for loamy and sandy loam soils.