Response of sugarcane grown on coarse-textured soils to chicken manuring foliar application of Zinc and Iron

Abstract

Growing sugarcane (K95-84) on coarse-textured, Satuk soil (Typic Paleustult) in farmer’s field of Sikhiu district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, was aimed at examining the effect of rice husk-mixed chicken manure and Zn, Fe foliar application on cane yield and nutrient concentration in leaf of the plant. The experimental design was 2 x 6 factorial in randomized complete block with four replications, comprising two factors as follow; 1) no manure and rice-husk-mixed chicken manure application (1000 kg/rai) and 2) no foliar application, Zn foliar application (3 kg/rai) once, twice, and three times, Zn+Fe application (3 and 0.8 kg/rai, respectively) once, and twice. This application was conducted at two-, three- and four-month after planting. All plots were added with complete fertilizer (15-15-15) at a rate of 20 kg/rai as basal dressing and urea mixed with 13-13-21, each at a rate of 20 kg/rai applied three- and five-month as side dressing after planting. Top visible dewlap leaf was collected at three- and six-months after planting for plant analysis and cane yield was harvested at 10 months of age. Results showed that the application rice husk-mixed chicken manure gave the yield of 15.6 ton/rai, which was significantly higher than the others with no application (13.4 ton/rai). The application, however, statistically reduced CCS of cane in this soils. Single foliar application of Zn tended to give the highest cane yields of 16.0 tone/rai When applied Zn twice with rice husk-mixed chicken manure added before planting tended to offer the greatest cane yield of 17.3 ton/ rai. The application of manure lowered Zn concentration but increased Fe in leaves compared to those without the application. Zinc foliar application enhanced a concentration of the nutrient itself but no effect of Fe concentration when applied together with Fe. Cane yield tentatively correlated to N concentration in three-month old’s leaf and to P and K at six months of age.