PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF AUTUMN PLANTED SUGARCANE TO PLANTING GEOMETRY AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ON DIFFERENT SOILS UNDER ARID CONDITIONS

Abstract

In a field trial physiological response of sugarcane cultivar HSF 240 to different nutrient doses like F1=0-0-0, F2=100-100-100, F3=150-150-100, F4=200-200-100 and F5= 250-200-100 kg NPK ha-1 and planting patterns G1=60cm, G2=75cm single row planting pattern, G3=30/90cm and G4=30/120cm spaced paired row strip planting pattern was determined at the research area of the Gomal University Rukh Bibi campus Dera Ismaiel Khan and Main Line Lower Land Reclamation Research Station Bhakkar during 2003-04 and 2004-05. The experiment was laid out according to randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a split plot arrangement having four replications. The analysis of pooled data of D.I Khan and Bhakkar revealed that different nutrient doses influenced all the physiological traits to a significant level. The maximum Crop growth rate (CGR), Leaf area index (LAI), Leaf area duration (LAD) and Net assimilation rate (NAR), were recorded at a fertilizer level of 250- 200-100 kg NPK ha-1 however CGR, LAI, LAD, NAR, were not statistically different from those recorded at 200-200-100 kg NPK ha-1 during both years. The maximum CGR, LAI, LAD, NAR were recorded in planting pattern of 30/90cm spaced paired row strip planting pattern followed by 75cm and 60cm single row planting pattern and was minimum in 30/120cm spaced paired row strip planting pattern where as LAI and NAR were non significant in all planting patterns during both years. The maximum CGR, LAI, LAD, NAR were recorded in 250–200-100 kg NPK ha-1 x 30/90cm spaced paired row strip planting pattern and these were also significantly higher than all other inter-active treatments and minimum in control x 30/120 cm spaced paired row strip planting pattern during both years. Where as CGR, LAI, LAD, NAR, were at par with 200–200-100 kg NPK ha-1 x 30/90cm spaced paired row strip planting pattern during both years. Therefore it is recommended that under arid conditions on Silt clay and sandy loam soils optimum LAI, LAD, CGR and NAR, were obtained from nutrient dose of 200–200-100 kg NPK ha-1 and 30/90cm spaced paired row strip planting pattern.