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Nitrogen‐Potassium Fertilization and Soil Moisture Effects on Growth and Development of Drip‐Irrigated Sugarcane 1
Author(s) -
Ingram K. T.,
Hilton H. W.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1986.0011183x002600050039x
Subject(s) - loam , agronomy , drip irrigation , irrigation , stalk , water content , population , sowing , cane , human fertilization , soil water , biology , moisture , horticulture , chemistry , sugar , ecology , biochemistry , demography , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , sociology , engineering
Because of the lack of N‐K balance in previous experiments and because of the relatively new development of drip irrigation, field research was conducted to determine the effects of N‐K fertilization and soil moisture on the growth and development of drip‐irrigated sugarcane ( Saccharum spp. hybrids). Two levels of N‐K fertilization, 575‐551 and 225‐217 kg ha −1 , were applied in factorial combination with three soil moisture regimes: (i) maintaining soil moisture tension between 10 and 20 kPa through frequent irrigation (designated 10‐20); (ii) maintaining soil moisture tension between 30 and 40 kPa through frequent irrigation (30‐40); and (iii) alternately allowing soil to dry to 80 kPa tension then irrigating to wet soil to 10 kPa (10‐80). Thus, there were six treatment combinations. The soil was a Molokai silty clay loam (Typic Torrox). Stalk population was 16% greater (P<0.05) in high than low N‐K treatments, whereas there was no significant effect of irrigation treatment on stalk population. In samples taken from 200 to 250 days after planting, leaf area index was about 30% greater in the 575‐551 than 225‐217 kg N‐K ha −1 treatments (P