Comparative Efficiency of Soil and Foliar Applied Nitrogen in Sugarcane, Quality Parameters and Leaf Nitrogen Content

The studies were conducted with CoS 718, narrow-and CoS 673, broad leaved varieties of sugarcane. The results indicated that the juice quality was depressed while CCS increased in both the varieties due to foliar feeding of nitrogen as compared to the equivalent dose given through soil (basal plus top dressing) but without significance. The best quality was obtained when 50 kg N/ha basal was supplemented with the equivalent dose as top dressing. On the other hand, CCS increased by increasing the nitrogen dose irrespective of the method of application. Variety CoS 718 performed sigificantly better in these attributes. Total leaf N was also more due to foliar sprays in both the varieties, particulary in CoS 718, thus showing no relevance of leaf dimension of varieties in nitrogen uptake.