Response of Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) to Urea and Methods of Application in some Soils in the Central Clay Plain of Sudan*

Abstract

The present experiments were conducted in the seasons 2005/06
and 2006/07 at Guneid, Assalaya and New Halfa Sugar Estates in the
central clay plain. The objectives were to investigate the response of
sugarcane (plant cane) to different doses of urea (46% N), to splitting the
dose and to covering urea by a thin layer of soil. Urea doses were 150 and
225 kg/feddan (one fed. = 0.42 ha). The fertilizer doses were applied either
at 45-60 days after planting (full dose) or split into two doses: two thirds at
45-60 days after planting and the other third at the age of five to six months.
Covering was also compared with uncovering the fertilizer with a thin layer
of soil. This factorial arrangement of treatments was laid out in a
randomized complete block design in Guneid and Assalaya for October
planting and in Guneid and New Halfa for June planting. The results
revealed that there were no significant differences in cane yield, yield
components and quality of the crop of the plant cane between the rates of
urea for the October and June plantings. Splitting the dose outyielded the
full dose for June planting at New Halfa only which had a long season that
exceeded 17 months. Covering urea insignificantly outyielded the
uncovered treatments. The dose 150 kg urea/fed. proved to be satisfactory
for both cane and sugar yields for the crop of the plant cane. Therefore, a
dose of 150 kg urea/fed. is recommended for the plant cane crop, and a
similar study should be done for ratoon cane.