Response of SPMC treated Zn and Cu on yield and quality of sugarcane

Application of zinc sulphate @ 25 kg/ha and copper sulphate @ 5 kg/ha fertilizers treated with sulphitation press mud cakes (SPMC @5q/ha was mixed uniformly with these fertilizers in fifteen days before planting), either alone or in combination, improved the cane production and sucrose percent in juice. Maximum cane yield (87.48 t/ha) was recorded under the application of Zinc sulphate (25 kg/ha) in combination with Copper sulphate (5 kg/ha) mixed with SPMC as compared to control (81.25 t/ha). Under this treatment, the sucrose percent in juice was significantly increased from 15.16 to 15.92 at 12^th month of crop age which was 4.38% higher over the control. The Zn and Cu content and uptake were also increased in index tissue plants with the application of Zn and Cu either alone or in combination.