Nutritional Disorders of Sugarcane

Nitrogen deficiency: All leaves of sugarcane exhibit a yellow – green colour and retardation of growth. Cane stalks are smaller in diameter and premature drying of older leaves. Roots attain a greater length but are smaller in diameter.

Phosphorus deficiency: Reduction in length of sugarcane stalks, diameters of which taper rapidly at growing points. The colour of the leaves is greenish blue, narrow and some what reduce length. Reduced tillering, decreased shoot / root ratio with restricted root development.

Potassium deficiency: Depressed growth, yellowing and marginal drying of older leaves and development of slender stalks. An orange, yellow colour appears in the older lower leaves which develop numerous chlorotic spots that later become brown with dead centre. A reddish discoloration which is confined to the epidermal cells of the upper surfaces and midribs of the leaves. The young leaves appear to have developed from a common point giving a “Bunched top” appearance. Poor root growth with less member of root hairs.

Zinc deficiency: Mild zinc deficiency exhibit a tendency to develop anthrocyanin pigments in the leaves. Pronounced bleaching of the green colour along the major veins and also striped effect due to a loss of chlorophyll along the veins. In acute cases of zinc deficiency there is evidences of necrosis and growth ceases  at the growing point.

Iron deficiency: Symptoms of Iron deficiency are generally seen in young leaves where pale stripes with scanty chlorophyll content occur between parallel lines. In advanced stages of deficiency the young leaves turn completely white, even in the veins.Root growth also becomes restricted.

Boron deficiency: Boron deficiency could be seen in the cane by depressed growth, development of distorted and chlorotic leaves and the presence of definite leaf and stalks lesions.  In extreme cases of boron deficiency the plant will die.