Abstract

A survey of sugarcane growing soils of Tamil Nadu state indicated micronutrient deficiencies of Zn (74%) followed by Fe (32%) and Cu (19% Field experiments at five locations were conducted in the farmers field. The treatments comprised of different levels of ZnSO, (0, 37.5, 75 kg ha), FcSO, (0, 100, 200 300 kg ha), CuSO, (0, 12-5, 25 kg'ha) as soil application and foliar application of 0 5% ZnSO. 1 to 2 FeSO, on 90th, 110th, and 130th days. The sugarcan varieties tested were COC 671, COC 8001 Over all consideration of the five trials indicated that individual application of ZnSO. 37.5 katha, FeSO, 100 kg'ha and CuSO, 125 kg/ha to the soils wherever these elements are deficient increased the cane yield. The increase was ranged form 0.75 to 11-8 tons ha Folior application of 0.5% ZnSO. and Fe50, were found to be equally effective. Combined application of Zn, Cu, and Fe failed to have an additional advantage and also at higher levels of ZnSO, 112.5: kg/ha and FeSO, 300 kg'ha, the cane yield was decreased, Micronutrient fertilisation of Zn and Fe improved the pole par cent of cane juice by 0.1 to 2.3%. The effect was more pronounced for Zn rather than Fe. COC 671 and COC 8601 had responsed well for the micronutrien: fertilisation in increasing the cane yield and juice quality.

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