Influence of Cultivars and Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates and Application Mode on Yields and Quality Parameters of Ratoon Sugarcane in Western Kenya

Productivity of sugarcane in Kenya has declined despite use of recommended production practices including introduction of elite high yielding and early maturing sugarcane varieties. Farmers continue to use recommended agronomic inputs for the old low yielding and late maturing varieties on these elite varieties. Nitrogen fertilizer rates in single or split doses for old varieties are still in use yet their appropriateness on new varieties remains untested culminating to decline in sugarcane productivity in Kenya. Currently, cane payment is based on delivered milling cane weight. The industry plans to change payment to a combination of quality and yields. Influence of agronomic inputs and timing of harvesting period on proposed mode of payment is unknown. Harvesting age in western Kenya remains 18-20 months after ratooning (MAR). However, optimal age that combines quality and yields is not documented. Influence of these agronomic practices on quality, yields and optimal harvesting age of ratoon crop of new (D8484) and old (CO421) varieties were evaluated in a 2x4x3 split-split-plot design replicated three times. Four rates of nitrogen as urea, all applied at 3 MAR, split once (50-50%) and applied at 3 and 6 MAR or split three times (40-30-30%) and applied at 3, 6 and 9 MAR were evaluated. Yields and quality parameters were monitored from 10th-24th MAR. Variety D8484 out-yielded (p≤0.05) CO421 throughout demonstrating its superiority. Yields reached maximum at 20 and 19 MAR for CO421 and D8484, respectively. Maximum pol and brix were attained at 18 and 15 MAR for CO421 and D8484, respectively, while commercial cane sugar (CCS) was maximum at 18 and 17 MAR for CO421 and D8484, respectively. Results demonstrated that for high returns, D8484 should be harvested between 15-18 MAR while CO421 between 17-19 MAR. The 60 kg N/ha, that produced higher (p≤0.05) output in both varieties, from 16th MAR is recommended for both varieties. Split fertilizer application did not affect productivity.

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Response of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) to Time of Application and Nitrogen Fertilizer on the Degraded Soil of Southern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria

Asian Soil Research Journal ◽

10.9734/asrj/2020/v3i130066 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 36-42

Author(s):

E. Ndor ◽

U. D. Faringoro

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽

Seed Weight ◽

Root Nodules ◽

Block Design ◽

Field Trials ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Time Of Application ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Fertilizer Rates

Field trials were conducted during 2017 and 2018 rainy season, to investigate the effect of nitrogen fertilizer rates and time of application on the growth and yield of cowpea. The treatment consisted of three levels of urea: 0, 40, 80 kg N ha-1 and the times of fertilizer application: during planting of cowpea, 2 weeks after planting, 4 weeks after planting and 6 weeks after planting; which were factorially combined to form twelve treatments and laid in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The results showed that, Nitrogen fertilizer rates and time of application had a significant increased on all the growth and yield parameters of cowpea in both years of trials. Application of 80 kg N ha-1 produced the highest number of cowpea leaves (134.45 and 139.23), number of branches (9.45 and 10.54), vine length (78.23cm and 80.12cm) and highest seed weight of 0.52 t ha-1 in both 2017 and 2018 trials. However, the control plots produced plants with the highest number of root nodules (14.78 and 12.49) in both years of cropping. Also, application of nitrogen fertilizer at two weeks after planting of cowpea produced the highest growth and seed weight of 0.68 t ha-1 in 2017 cropping; while in 2018 trial, application of nitrogen fertilizer at two weeks after cowpea planting produced seed yield of 0.69tha-1 which is statistically similar with application of nitrogen fertilizer on the fourth week after planting which produced 0.55 t ha-1 of cowpea seeds. The interaction between nitrogen fertilizer application rates and time of application did not showed any significant difference in cowpea yield and yield components in both years of cropping.

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VARIATIONS IN THE PRECURSORS OF PLAIN BLACK TEA QUALITY PARAMETERS DUE TO LOCATION OF PRODUCTION AND NITROGEN FERTILIZER RATES IN EASTERN AFRICAN CLONAL TEA LEAVES

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479715000083 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 52 (2) ◽

pp. 266-278 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

BOWA O. KWACH ◽

P. OKINDA OWUOR ◽

DAVID M. KAMAU ◽

SOLOMON W. MSOMBA ◽

MARY A. UWIMANA

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽

Black Tea ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Eastern Africa ◽

Green Leaf ◽

Nitrogenous Fertilizer ◽

Tea Quality ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate ◽

Nitrogen Rates ◽

Fertilizer Rates

SUMMARYTheaflavins contribute to astringency and brightness while thearubigins contribute to colour and mouth feel of black tea. Green leaf flavan-3-ols influence levels and distribution of theaflavins and thearubigins in black tea and are black tea quality precursor compounds. Caffeine also contributes to tea quality. Although location of production and nitrogenous fertilizer rates influence black tea quality, it is not known if the variations arise from the levels and distribution of the precursor compounds in green leaf or other factors. The variations and distribution of the flavan-3-ols and caffeine in young green leaves of clone TRFK 6/8 due to nitrogen fertiliser rates in seven locations within Eastern Africa were evaluated. Green leaf comprising two leaves and a bud were harvested from each plot, and subjected to HPLC analysis for caffeine, total polyphenol, dihydroxyflavan-3-ols, trihydroxyflavan-3-ols, ratios of trihydroxyflavan-3-ols to dihydroxyflavan-3-ols and total catechins levels. Results were subjected to statistical analysis using split plot design, with locations as main treatments and nitrogen rates as the sub-treatment. Caffeine and flavan-3-ols levels changed (p ≤ 0.05) with location of production, demonstrating that even with use of same cultivar and similar agronomic management quality of tea from one location cannot be replicated in another location. Caffeine levels increased (p ≤ 0.05) with rise in nitrogen fertilizer rate in all locations, but the extent depended on location. Total polyphenols and individual flavan-3-ols showed an inverse quadratic response, except EGCG that linearly decreased (p ≤ 0.05) in some locations, due to increasing rates of nitrogen fertilizer. Similar responses in the black tea quality parameters had been observed in previous studies. The black tea quality results were therefore directly influenced by the green leaf precursor compound patterns. Region specific nitrogenous fertilizer rates need development to ensure high tea quality.

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Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Yield of Maize Varieties as affected by Nitrogen rate in Mid Altitude Areas of Western Ethiopia

10.20944/preprints201902.0239.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Tolera Abera Goshu ◽

Dagne Wegary Gissa ◽

Tolessa Debele Dalessa

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

Agronomic Efficiency ◽

Maize Varieties ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Fertilizer Rates ◽

Western Ethiopia

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most widely grown important crop in mid altitude areas of intensive maize-based cropping system of western Ethiopia. Agronomic management is the most important input for getting potential yield and high net returns in hybrid maize production. A field experiment was carried out on farmers’ field to find out the effect of varieties (four maize) and nitrogen fertilizer rate (55, 110 kg N ha-1) with one control on yield components and nitrogen use efficiency of different maize varieties in 2013 and 2014 cropping season. It was laid with randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications. Mean grain yield, thousand seed weight, dry biomass and harvest index of maize varieties were significantly differed among farms and varieties of maize. Application of nitrogen fertilizer rates was significantly increased mean grain yield maize varieties. Interaction of maize varieties with nitrogen fertilizer rates was significantly affected all yield components of maize varieties. Application half and full recommended nitrogen fertilizer gave mean grain yield advantages of 31 and 41 % over control maize varieties planted without nitrogen application. Maize varieties producing higher mean grain yield was also giving higher mean dry biomass. Mean nitrogen up take was varied from 225 to 357 kg ha-1 among varieties of maize. Higher agronomic efficiency of all maize varieties was obtained from maize planted with application half recommended nitrogen fertilizer compared to full recommend. Agronomic efficiency was ranged from 18 to 33 produced among maize varieties. Significantly higher nitrogen up take efficiency of maize varieties was achieved from maize planted with full recommended nitrogen fertilizer application. Considerably higher nitrogen use efficiency of maize varieties was realized from all maize varieties planted with application half recommended nitrogen fertilizer. Application of half recommended nitrogen fertilizer was gave 32 % fertilizer N use efficiency advantage as compared to full recommended nitrogen fertilizer. Maize varieties BH-661>BH-660> BH-543>BH-540>BH-140 were desirable varieties for further promotion work and use by smallholder farmers in mid altitude area of western Ethiopia.

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Sugar Productivity Assessment of Newly Developed Promising Genotypes of Sugarcane

Journal of Bio-Science ◽

10.3329/jbs.v17i0.7099 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

pp. 41-44

Author(s):

DK Tiawari ◽

P Pandey ◽

RK Singh ◽

SP Singh ◽

SB Singh

Keyword(s):

Sugar Industry ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

Cane Sugar ◽

Sugar Yield ◽

Cane Yield ◽

Ratoon Crop ◽

Commercial Cane Sugar ◽

Prime Concern ◽

Sugarcane Productivity ◽

Sugar Productivity

Context: The prime concern of cane growers and the sugar industry is to achieve higher sugarcane productivity and high sugar recovery both of which support maximum economic return. This requires newly developed sugarcane genotypes.Objectives: To study the performance of newly developed sugarcane genotypes for plant crop and ratooning ability in U.P. Condition. Materials and Methods: The performance of newly developed sixteen promising sugarcane genotypes along with three standards check viz.; CoJ64, CoS95255 and CoS767 were evaluated during 2005-07 at Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Results: The experimental results revealed that significantly higher commercial cane sugar (CCS) yield was observed by the genotype UP49 (13.19 t ha-1), CoS06262 (13.67 t ha-1), CoS05263 (13.70 t ha-1), CoS06247 (12.67 t ha-1), CoS05259 (13.12 t ha-1) over three standards CoS767 (9.41 t ha-1), CoJ64 (9.54 t ha-1) and CoS95255 (12.56 t ha-1). The genotype UP49 (10.50 t ha-1) recorded highest CCS% followed by CoS06247 and CoS05263 having 10.49 t ha-1 and 10.29 t ha-1 respectively in ratoon crop. Amongst all the genotypes UP49, CoS06262, CoS05263, CoS06248, CoS06253, CoS05259 and CoS06263 were proved significantly superior over all the three standards checks in respect of cane yield. Conclusion: The UP49 was found the best performer and superior to widely adopted variety CoS767 in respect of cane yield, commercial cane sugar percent, sugar yield and pol percent in cane; under plant and ratoon crops. Key words: Sugarcane; ratoon; CCS%; sugar yield and productivity.DOI: 10.3329/jbs.v17i0.7099J. bio-sci. 17: 41-44, 2009

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Managing nitrogen fertility of irrigated soft white spring wheats for optimum quality

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/p05-036 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 86 (2) ◽

pp. 459-464 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mary J. Guttieri ◽

Katherine O’Brien, Cecile Becker ◽

Jeffrey C. Stark ◽

Juliet Windes ◽

Edward Souza

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Yield Response ◽

Retention Capacity ◽

Application Timing ◽

Soft White Spring Wheat ◽

Flour Yield ◽

Irrigated Wheat

Irrigated wheat growers often choose to apply only part of the crop’s nitrogen fertilizer requirement at planting to avoid over-fertilizing the crop at early stages of growth. Later in the growing season, producers will apply additional nitrogen fertilizer as needed to optimize production. This study evaluated effects of top-dress nitrogen fertilizer application timing and rate on the milling and baking quality of two soft white spring wheat cultivars produced in an irrigated environment when the pre-plant fertility rates were insufficient for optimal crop yield. Top-dress N increased lactic acid solvent retention capacity (SRC), a measure of gluten strength, of the resulting flour by increasing flour protein concentration. Although lactic acid SRC response and the grain yield response to top-dress fertilizer were unaffected by application timing, other quality parameters, including break flour yield, flour ash, and, in the case of the cultivar Alturas, sugar snap cookie diameter, were affected by application timing. Earlier timing of top-dress fertilization minimized the detrimental effects of the fertilizer application on break flour yield and flour ash concentration. Key words: Soft wheat, nitrogen, gluten, flour ash

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Effects of Rate and Split Application of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Yield of Two Sugarcane Varieties from Ratoon Crop

Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences ◽

10.15580/gjas.2013.3.102712155 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 235-239 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

George O. Achieng ◽

◽

Samwel O. Nyandere ◽

Philip O. Owuor ◽

Gordon O. Abayoand ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽

Split Application ◽

Ratoon Crop ◽

Sugarcane Varieties

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Influence of a BactoFil microbiological preparation on the intensity of infection by Rhizoctonia solani and the effects on sugar beet yield and quality

Sugar Industry ◽

10.36961/si12584 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 102-109

Author(s):

Suzana Kristek ◽

Andrija Kristek ◽

Dragana Kocevski ◽

Antonija K. Jankovi ◽

Dražen Juriši

Keyword(s):

Sugar Beet ◽

Rhizoctonia Solani ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽

Soil Analysis ◽

Block Design ◽

Sugar Content ◽

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Beet Root ◽

Set Up

The experiment was set up on two types of the soil: Mollic Gleysols (FAO, 1998) and Eutric Cambisols where the presence of pathogenic fungi – sugar beet root decay agent – Rhizoctonia solani has been detected since 2005. In a two year study (2008, 2009), the experiment was set up by completely randomized block design in 4 repetitions and 16 different variants. Two beet varieties, Belinda, sensitive to pathogenic fungi R. solani, and Laetitia, tolerant to pathogenic fungi R. solani), were grown. The microbiological preparation BactoFil was applied in different amounts in autumn and spring. In addition, the nitrogen fertilizer application, based on the results of soil analysis, was varied. The following parameters were tested: amount of infected and decayed plants, root yield, sugar content, sugar in molasses and sugar yield. The best results were obtained by applying the microbiological preparation BactoFil, and by 30% reduced nitrogen fertilizer application. Preparation dosage and time of application depended on soil properties.

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