Phosphorus fertilization and lime application and its effect on sugarcane growth, yield and borer attack in sugarcane

Both soil phosphorus (P) and soil acidity are the key factors in soil fertility management and often limits crop production in subtropical agriculture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of lime and different P rates on sugarcane variety and their interactive effect on the sugar cane borer attack. A three factorial experiment containing, two sugarcane varieties i. e., (SP81-3250 and RB-956911); with and without application of agricultural lime (3.5 t ha-1) and four P rates i. e., (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P2O5 ha-1) was carried out at the research field area of Federal University of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil during 2011-12. It assessed a) sugarcane stalk length, b) stem diameter; c) number of internodes, d) number of stalk ha-1, e) stalk yield, f) °Brix and g) Intensity of infestation Index. Results indicated that, the stalk yields of RB-956911 and SP81-3250 was 106.6 and 139.8 Mg ha-1, respectively. The °Brix was between 18.60 % and 18.00 %, respectively. The Intensity of infestation Index was 2.76 % for the RB-956911 and 3.65 % for the SP81-3250. The lime application showed significant results only on the borer attack. Phosphorus application increased the sugarcane yield from 105.9 Mg ha-1 to 136.5 Mg ha-1 with 60 kg of P2O5 ha-1. The application of phosphorus increased sugarcane productivity but it does not contribute which increase the borer attack.