Effect of Time of Nitrogen Application on Yield and Quality of Early Maturing Sugarcane Varieties Under Rainfed Conditions

Field experiments were conducted for three consecutive kharif seasons (1991 to 1993) at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Anakapalle to suggest a suitable variety and optimum time of nitrogen application for sugarcane grown under rainfed conditions. The results revealed that the varieties 83 A 30 and Co 6907 are more suitable for rainfed cultivation than 81 A 99 and 85 A 261. Application of recommended dose of nitrogen (75 kg/ha) in two equal splits either at planting and within 30 DAP or at 30 and 60 DAP benefited the crop to produce more number of longer millable canes at harvest which ultimately resulted in higher cane and sugar yields. Juice quality was unaltered due to application of nitrogen at different periods of crop growth.