Abstract

                                Find experiments were conducted at seven locations in the Nellikuppam sugar factory area where Zn and Fe deficiencies are noticed, to stucy the comparative etti- cacy of soil and foliar application of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 for sugarcane. The treatments consisted application of ZnSO4 (0. 18.75 and 37.5 kg/ha): FeSO4 (0, 50 and 100 kg/ha): foliar application of l_{0} deg ZnSO4 2% FeSO4 and 2 * o/n urea on 90th, 110th and 130th days. Sugarcane varieties COC 8001, COC 671, COC 8201 and CO 6304 were tested. The cane yield was significantly increased at three locations viz. P. V. Natham, P. N. Palayam and Ramhakkam with the application of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 in COC 8001-at two locations and another in COC 671 varieties. The cane yield increase ranged from 3.28 to 8.46 tha between NPK control and other treatments, Consideration of the mean yield values for different treatments for three locations indicated higher response for the application of 18.75 kg ZnSO4 + 50 kg Fe mathfrak S*O_{4} / h_{0} + 1% Zns * 0 +29/ FeSO, + 20% urea (foliar sprays given on 90th, 110th and 130th days). But this was on par with the other treatments including the 2 * 0/n urea foliar spray. The mean Pol percen- tage (Sucrose content) was increased significantly in five locations in all the varieties tried. Althouh cane yield was significantly increased for the urea 2 * 0/n spray, tune of increase in Pol was markedly higher only for the Zn and Fe treatments. Foliar spray of Zn and Fe had greater effect than the soil application.

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