PRODUCTIVITY OF SUGARCANE APPLIED WITH DIFFERENT QUANTITIES OF NPK AT CENTRAL PHILIPPINES

Abstract

Sugarcane is a valuable crop in the Philippines. It is planted in different soil types at different climatic conditions and cultural management practices. The study was conducted in two locations to determine the effect of different levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on the productivity of sugarcane (Phil 99-1793). It was laid out in two sugarcane locations in the Central portion of the Philippines. The different combinations of NPK levels significantly affected sugarcane tonnage and sugar yield in the two locations. In location 1, increasing the quantity of nitrogen, the tonnage per hectare, and sugar yield had also increased. Increasing levels of phosphorus fertilization also resulted in increasing tons of cane per hectare and sugar yield. The NPK recommended rate on the other hand had produced significantly lower cane tonnage and sugar yield as compared to higher nitrogen rates at constant phosphorus and potassium. In location 2, different levels of NPK fertilization significantly influenced cane tonnage and sugar yield at harvest. The significantly highest cane tonnage and sugar yield were observed in T5 (140 kg N/ha-0 P-240 kg K2O/ha) which was statistically comparable with the recommended rate (175-0-240). The soils laboratory recommended NPK rates of fertilization produced the highest sugar yields (LKG/TC) in both locations. The heaviest tonnage was observed in location 2 when the nitrogen fertilizer rate was higher as compared to the recommended rate of nitrogen fertilizer at constant phosphorus and potassium. More studies should be conducted related to this subject to contribute to the knowledge related to this study.