Enhancement of production and quality of sugarcane using nitrogen and vinasses

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ‎N-fertilizer levels and vinasses on the yield and quality ‎traits of two sugarcane varieties. Two field experiments ‎were conducted at Shandaweel Agricultural Research ‎Station in Sohag Governorate, Egypt in the 2020/2021 ‎and 2021/2022 seasons to find out the appropriate level ‎of nitrogen fertilizer (180, 210 and 240 kg N/fed.) and ‎cane vinasses (0 and 50 l/fed.) to maximize yield and ‎quality in sugarcane. Experiments were conducted using ‎RCBD in a split split-plot arrangement. The results ‎showed that sugarcane varieties differed markedly in all ‎studied traits. The sugarcane variety G.T.54-9 recorded ‎the highest values of yield and its component, while ‎G.2003-47 was superior in juice quality traits in both ‎seasons, as well as sugar yield/fed. in the 1st one. ‎Increasing N fertilizer level to 240 kg N/fed. resulted in a ‎significant increase in yield and its component, in both ‎seasons, while adding 210 kg N/fed led to a significant ‎increase in juice quality traits, in both seasons, as well as ‎sugar yield/fed in the 1st one. Results showed that the ‎addition of 50 l/fed. of vinasses caused a significant ‎increase in all the studied traits in both seasons. In the ‎present study, it was found that growing sugarcane ‎varieties studied and fertilizing them with 240 and/or 210 ‎kg N/fed., combined with 50 l/fed of cane vinasses can ‎be recommended to get the maximum cane and sugar ‎yields/fed.‎ Keyword: Sugarcane varieties; Nitrogen; Vinasses; Cane ‎yield; Juice quality ____________________________________________ ‎‎ Sugar Crops Research Inst., ARC, Giza, Egypt *corresponding author; ahmedfathy1279@yahoo.com Introduction It is known that the sugarcane variety is the corner stone ‎for maximizing the production of sugar to minimize the ‎gap between the production and consumption of such a ‎strategic commodity in Egypt. The commercial variety ‎G.T.54-9 has been planted for so many years occupying ‎almost 100% of the area planted with sugarcane in Egypt ‎(Sugar Crops Council, annual report 2021). Nowadays, ‎Sugar Crops Research Institute has developed a number ‎of sugarcane varieties, of which G.2003-47 is considered ‎a promising one. The newly bred varieties showed ‎variable responses to different agronomic practices. Makhlouf et al. ‎(2016), Fahmy et al. (2017), El-Bakry ‎(2018) Gadallah and Abd El-Aziz (2019), Gadallah et al. (‎2020), Gadallah and Mehareb (2020) and Ali et al. (‎2022) found that sugarcane variety G.T.54-9 showed the ‎superiority in stalk height, stalk diameter, number of ‎millable canes as well as cane and sugar yields/fed. while ‎G.2003-47 was superior in juice quality characteristics.‎ The most significant ingredient for most farmed crops is ‎nitrogen, which it is an essential and structural element ‎for producing different organic compounds in plants such ‎as proteins, nucleic acids, chlorophyll, protoplasm and ‎vitamins, required for building up plant organs and ‎enhancing its growth. Concerning effects of nitrogen ‎fertilization levels on sugarcane traits, Osman et al. (‎2010) found that increasing N levels to 240 kg N/fed. ‎recorded the highest values of stalk length, diameter, ‎number of millable canes, cane and sugar yields/fed., ‎while juice quality traits decreased significantly Bekheet ‎and Abd El-Aziz . (2016) showed that raising N level to 220 ‎kg N/fed resulted in increases in stalk height, diameter, ‎number of millable canes/fed., cane and sugar yields/fed. Makhlouf et al. ‎(2016) cleared that increasing N levels up ‎to 240 kg N/fed led to significant increases in stalk ‎length, diameter, number of millable canes/fed, cane ‎and sugar yields/fed. Bekheet et al. (2018). Egyptian Sugar Journal (2023),20: 63 76 https://doi.org/ 10.21608/esugj.2023.215818.1040