Improving sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid complex) growth, yield and quality through balanced fertilization: an overview

Abstract

The yield and quality of the sugar cane produced are influenced by the fertility status of the soil, as well as the farmers' fertilization schedule. Excess or deficiency of nutrients influence the concentration of sucrose in sugar cane. There is a significant interaction between nutrients, for example, potassium, together with phosphorus and nitrogen, are crucial, but excess of these nutrients can stimulate cane lodging and have a negative impact on the quality of the juice and sugar production. To determine the effects of underdosing or overdosing nitrogen, phosphate and potassium fertilizers on juice quality, studies of fertilizer doses and fertilizer application times are necessary. Excessive fertilization, in addition to being wasteful, increases production costs and can pollute the environment. Furthermore, some new interventions, such as the use of a multinutrient fertilizer, “polyhalite” (K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4.2H2O) with conventional muriate of potassium (KCl) @ 80 kg K2O ha-1 in the proportion of 50% each and the use of rice compost (@5.5 t of rice compost) on the balanced nutrition of sugarcane was also discussed. As there is currently no K recommendation for sugarcane, in the Indo-Gangetic plains of Indian Punjab, it is necessary to develop and standardize the recommended K, particularly in K-deficient regions, to improve growth, yield and recovery, by on the one hand, while improving the sugarcane farmer's livelihood, on the other.