Effects of Sub-soil Drip Fertigation on Sugarcane in Field Conditions

Sugarcane variety ROC 28 was used to investigate the effects of sub-soil drip fertigation on yield and quality of sugarcane. Four different fertilization treatments, viz., drip fertigation, conventional fertilization without drip irrigation, conventional fertilization with drip irrigation and drip irrigation without fertilization were designed in sugarcane field. The fertilizer rate used was as follows: N, 375 kg/ha; P2O5, 195 kg/ha; K2O, 420 kg/ha; ZnSO4 center dot 7H(2)O, 15 kg/ha and borax, 15 kg/ha. The treatments of drip fertigation and conventional fertilization with drip irrigation promoted faster and earlier growth of sugarcane, increased number of tillers, improved elongation and diameter of stalk at later growth stage, and increased yield with 31.9 and 22.8 % compared to the conventional fertilization without drip irrigation and drip irrigation without fertilization, respectively. The former treatments resulted in 2205.6 and 78.2 Yuan RMB/ha higher income than later ones, respectively. Therefore, application of drip fertigation may be recommended as one of important measures for highly effective cost-saving sugarcane cultivation in upland areas.