Skip to content
Fertilizer Dose logoFertilizer Dose

Sugarcane

Verified data

Saccharum officinarum

Year-round (12–14 month crop) · Punjab PK / UP India

Fertilizer recommendation

N 150P₂O₅ 60K₂O 150kg/ha

Source: IAC Boletim 100 / Sugar Research Australia (Ahmed research 2026-10-14)

Calculate for my land

How to Apply Fertilizer Correctly

Practical field advice for Sugarcane — knowing how to apply fertilizer matters as much as knowing how much.

What is the correct way to flood DAP for Sugarcane?
Dissolve the DAP with a DAP solvent in a drum so it fully dissolves. Do NOT open the drum valve at the start of irrigation — wait until the water has covered about 25% of the plot (roughly 1–1.5 kanal in). Then open the valve. Close the drum valve about 10 minutes before you stop the water, so the last flow of water carries the dissolved fertilizer evenly to the far end of the field.
Should urea be flooded with irrigation water, or broadcast afterwards?
Do NOT flood urea. Flooding loses 40–50% of nitrogen through leaching (deep percolation) and denitrification (lost as gas). Instead, broadcast (chhatta) the urea 1–3 days after irrigation, when the soil is moist (tar-wattar condition). This gives 30%+ better absorption than flooding.
How can I distribute fertilizer evenly across the field?
Open the fertilizer drum valve only after irrigation water has already entered 1–1.5 kanal — opening it too early empties the drum before the far end is reached. If the field is not laser-leveled, divide one acre into 2–4 plots (kyare): 2 plots for heavy clay soils, 3–4 for loam, and fertigate each plot separately. Keep checking both the field and the drum during irrigation until you get a feel for the timing.
When should phosphorus and potash be applied?
Phosphorus (P₂O₅) and potash (K₂O) are best applied at sowing as a basal dose, placed in the seedbed. If you missed it at sowing, dissolve the fertilizer (use a DAP solvent for DAP) and flood it at the first or second irrigation — flooding is far more effective than broadcasting for phosphorus and potash at that stage.

Growing conditions

Soil
Deep, rich loam; heavy feeder — high organic matter helps.
Water
High requirement; critical during tillering and grand growth.
Growing season
Plant February – March (spring) or September (autumn).
Suitable regions
Punjab PK / UP India

Growth stages & feeding

1

Basal · At planting

Full phosphorus + potassium + part nitrogen in furrows.

2

Tillering · ~90 days

Nitrogen top-dressing.

3

Grand growth · ~180 days

Final nitrogen split; no late nitrogen (reduces sugar recovery).

Watch out for

Sugarcane borerRed rotWhip smutWaterlogging

Seeing symptoms? Try the Plant Doctor →

Related fertilizers

UreaDAPMOP

Organic fertilizer options

Well-rotted farmyard manure, compost or vermicompost can be used as a basal soil conditioner for Sugarcane — they build soil structure and release nutrients slowly over the season. Because organic nutrient content varies by source, top up the precise nutrient need with mineral fertilizer calculated for your crop and region.

No crop-specific verified organic dose exists for this crop — the guidance above is general practice, not a measured recommendation. Get your material lab-tested for precision planning.

Explore organic fertilizers →

References

  • Provincial agriculture departments / research institutes. IAC Boletim 100 / Sugar Research Australia (Ahmed research 2026-10-14) — Punjab PK / UP India

Last reviewed: 2026-10-01