Sugarcane is an exhaustive crop like wheat, rice, maize etc, that uptake huge amount of nutrients. It requires macro as well as micro nutrients.

Fertilizers are use in Pakistan is imbalanced, inadequate and improper. Most of the cane growers in the country use only nitrogenous fertilizers while others use an imbalanced combination of N and P. Use of K is almost neglected in cane crop. It is very important to use proper doses of balanced fertilizers to exploit the maximum yield potential of cane crop.

Fertilizers Varieties for Sugarcane Crop

Table of Fertilizer Recommendations for Sugarcane in Pakistan

All phosphorus and potash should be applied at the time of planting. It is preferable that P and K may be applied in furrows where seed sets are to be placed. Rest of the nitrogenous fertilizer may be applied in 4 – 5 equal splits by fertigation system, during April, May and by mid June to February-March planted crop. In September – October cultivated crop, it will be beneficial if N is applied in 5 – 6 equal splits. In this case it may be applied during December, February, March, April, May and June. September planted crop may be given an additional dose of 20 to 40 kg N (one to two bags of urea) per acre.

Fertigation System

Sugarcane being a giant crop producing huge quantity of biomass generally demands higher amounts of nutrient elements. At the same time the cost of chemical fertilizers has increased and there is a need to improve fertilizer use efficiency for more benefits. The best way of fertilizer application is "Fertigation", where both water and fertilizers are delivered to crop simultaneously through center pivot irrigation system.

• Fertigation is a way of uniform application of fertilizers by combining with irrigation water.Fertigation is achieved through fertilizer tank and Injector Pump.
• Ensures a regular flow of water as well as nutrients resulting in increased growth rates for higher yields
• Offers greater versatility in the timing of the nutrient application to meet specific crop demands
• Improves availability of nutrients and their uptake by the roots
• Safer application method which eliminates the danger of burning the plant root system
• Improves fertilizer use efficiency
• Reduction of soil compaction and mechanical damage to the crops
• Convenient use of compound and ready-mix nutrient solutions containing also small concentration of micronutrients

Earthing UP and Lodging

Earthing up is a practice followed to prevent lodging. Sugarcane usually lodges in August – September. It may even lodge in July if the cane crop is much healthier. Lodged cane caused losses e.g. reduction in yield, damage of mice, buds start germination, reduction in sugar recovery and hurdle in loading etc. lodged crop also become victim of frost and cannot be used as seed for next crop. Crop lodging might be due to many reason, i.e., cane variety, sowing time, sowing method, fertilizer application time, irrigation, rain, and storm are common. Earthing up is done at maximum tillering stage.

Reasons of Sugarcane Lodging

1. i) If September sown crop have massive growth, it tend to lodge more
2. If fertilizer application is delayed, the plants become soft and tender.
3. If crop is massive, it will lodge quickly
4. If there is hardpan and land is not prepared deeply and well, the root establishment is obstructed and it will lodge in storm
5. If trenches have less R x R distance, the cane will be long and slim and will lodge. Cane sown in trenches 4ft apart will have less chances of lodging due to healthy and strong cane plants. Earthing up, if practiced properly, will prevent lodging and reduces waterwastage.