Indian Journal of Agronomy

A field experiment was conducted during the spring seasons of 2007–08 and 2008–09 at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, to identify maximum nitrogen-use efficiency of early-maturing sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids complex) genotypes for higher productivity with low-input supply. The experimental treatment consisted of 8 early-maturing genotypes, viz. ‘CoS 95270’, ‘CoS 96258’, ‘CoH 92201’, ‘BO 130’, ‘CoS 96268’, ‘CoPt 98224’, ‘BO 128’ and ‘CoLk 94184’. The genotypes were planted in furrows during the spring season (in February) along with 4 nitrogen levels, viz. control, 150 kg N/ha, farm yard manure (FYM) @ 10 t/ha and 150 kg N/ha + FYM@ 10 t/ha. The highest nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) was observed with ‘CoLk 94184’ (260.9 kg cane/kg N applied) at 150 kg N application. The genotype ‘CoLk 94184’ grown with 150 kg N + 10 t FYM yielded 66.1 t/ha followed by ‘BO 128’. Significant variation in the germination percentage of different genotypes was observed. The highest germination (%) was noticed in ‘CoLk 94184’ followed by ‘CoS 96258’. Significantly highest number of millable canes (133.7 thousand/ha) were observed in genotype ‘CoLk 94184’. Increase in number of millable canes was recorded with the application of nitrogen and its fortification with organic matter (FYM). In general, the productivity of sugarcane enhanced at 150 kg + 10 t FYM/ha as compared to 150 kg N/ha alone. The genotypes ‘CoS 95270’, ‘CoLk 94184’, ‘CoS 96258’, ‘CoS 96268’, ‘CoH 92201’ and ‘BO 130’ recorded significantly higher and at par commercial cane sugar. However, ‘CoLk 94184’ gave significantly highest sugar yield (8.35 t/ha), which was statistically at par with those produced by ‘CoS 95270’, ‘CoS 96268’ and ‘BO 128’. The sugar yield was enhanced with application of N along with FYM. The higher root volume (71.9 cc) and root length (33.1 cm) were recorded by the genotype ‘CoLk 94184’ however ‘BO 128’ blessed with higher root spread.