Sugarcane Response to Nitrogen in Nyanza Sugar Belt: Economic Analysis

Abstract

Both chemical analyses of three major soils and field trials conducted between 1952 and 1975 in Nyanza Sugar Belt were reviewed, and indicated that nitrogen is a limiting factor in sugarcane growing in this area. The yield data were combined and quadratic production functions were fitted. This was utilized to derive the economic optima for the three crops. The respective calculated optimum doses of calcium ammonium nitrate, sulphate of ammonia and urea are: Plant Crop: 73 Kg N/ha, 86 kg N/ha and 97 kg N/ha First Ratoon: 103 Kg N/ha, 109 kg N/ha and 114 kg N/ha Second Ratoon: 129 Kg N/ha 136 kg N/ha and 143 kg N/ha