Abstract
Sugarcane responses to NPK application at 0-0-0, 150-0-0,
150-150 0, 1$0-150-150 kg/ha and planting geometry comprising
60, $0, 120 cm apart single, double and triple row strips, respecti-
vely with 30 cm space between the cows of each strip were determi-
ned on a sandy clay Joam soil, Among the three planting patterns,
90 cm apart paired row strip planting system on account of greater
number of millable canes per unit area gave the highest cane yield
of 128.58 tonnes/ha as against 115.98 and J11.72 tonnes‘ha for the
60 cm apart single rows and 120 cm apart triple row planting
systems, respectively, As regards NPK rates, cane yield was
increased by 20.6 tonnes/ba over the check with the application of
150 kg N afone, while the addition of 160k¢ P,0./ha alongwith N
increased the cane yield further by 6.9 tonnes‘ha over N alone as
against 7.1 tonnes/ha over NP with the application of )S0kg K,O;
ha. The highest cane : top ratio of 12.27 was achieved in case of
$0 cm apart paired row strip planting system compared to 9.59 for
the 60 cm apart single row planting system. Similarly, the cane:top
catio of 11,30 to 12.54 was recorded in fertilized treatments and
the Jowest of 7.91 in check plots. Sucrese contents in cane were
reduced significantly over the check with the application of N
alone, While P and K in combination with N improved the sucrose
contents in cane to the level of check,