Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates On the Establishment and Yield of New Sugarcane Cultivars in Kibos, Kisumu County

Abstract

Sugar industry plays an important role in economic development of Kenya. Nitrogen is the primary nutrient limiting sugarcane production throughout the world. A study was conducted in Kibos during the year 2015-2018 on the effect of nitrogen fertilizer rates on the yield of new sugarcane. The aim was to determine the optimal nitrogen rates for the new sugarcane cultivars and to analysis the cost benefits of N fertilizer rates on new sugarcane yields. The treatments consisted of 11 cultivars KEN 98-367, KEN 98-530, KEN 98-533, KEN 98-551, KEN 00-13, KEN 00-3548, KEN 00-3811, EAK 73-335, KEN 82-121, KEN 82-601, KEN 82-493 and 3 levels of N fertilizer rates; 0kg Nha-1, 80kg Nha-1 and 160 kg Nha-1 as top-dress at five months after planting. The experiment was laid out as 11 x 3 factorial in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) having three replications with a gross plot size of 5 rows 6m long and spaced at 1.2 m apart. Clean seedcane aged 10 months was used. The trial was harvested at 17 months for plant crop (PC) and 16 months for ratoon1 (R1). Data was analyzed by ANOVA. The results showed that significant differences were noticed in girth, stalk heights, R1sugarcane yields and nitrogen rates of R1. Stalk population, pol% juice and nitrogen rates of PC did no differ. KEN00-3811 out yielded all the other cultivars and EAK 73-335 was the worst performer. Therefore, there is a need for further evaluation on Kibos soil before appropriate nitrogen fertilizer rate is recommended. And the cultivar recommendation should be site specific.