Influence of Height of Cane and Leaf Stage at Time of Sampling on Leaf-Nutrient Content of Sugarcane

Abstract

Leaf samples of sugarcane were taken from a fertilizer experiment at Río Piedras with varieties B. 41227 and M. 336 to determine whether the height of cane or the number of leaves present at leaf-sampling time influenced the nutrient content of the leaf sample. It was found that: 1. There was no significant difference in leaf nitrogen or potassium from cane tillers aged 3 months with heights of 12, 24, and 36 inches. 2. Variations in cane height at time of sampling did influence leaf-phosphorus values; there were increases in cane height. 3. The number of leaves present at time of sampling (7-13 weeks) did not influence leaf-nutrient values in general, except for nitrogen and phosphorus at 9 weeks of age. Here the trends of this influence with the two varieties studied were contrary.