YIELD AND QUALITY OF SUGARCANE AS INFLUENCED BY DIFFERENT DOSES OF POTASH AND ITS TIME OFAPPLICATION

The present study was conducted to determine the role of potassium in split application on yield and quality of sugarcane. Experiment was carried out at the Farm Area, Sugarcane Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan in a randomized complete block design having three replications with a net plot size of 6m × 8m. The results revealed significant differences among all the treatments means except for fiber percent. The maximum stripped cane yield (116 107 t ha^-1during 2006 and 2007, respectively) was recorded with the application of 168 kg K2O ha^-1 in two splits; 84 kg K2O ha^-1 at planting + 84 kg K2O ha^-1 at 90 days after planting, while the highest brix (20.4 and 20.8% during 2006 and 2007, respectively), sucrose (17.5 and 18.2% during 2006 and 2007, respectively) and commercial cane sugar (12.95 and 13.60% during 2006 and 2007, respectively) were obtained with the application of 224 kg K2O ha^-1 in two splits;112 kg K2O ha^-1 at planting+ 112kg K2O ha^-1 at 90 days after planting. The same results were also supported by Contrasts’ analysis. It was concluded that the maximum stripped cane yield, NFB and BCR were obtained with the application of 168 kg K2O ha^-1 in two splits; 84 kg K2O ha^-1 at planting + 84 kg K2O ha^-1 at 90 DAP in the moderately fertile soil.