Effect of biostimulant and silica application on sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum L.) production

Abstract

Low productivity of sugarcane occurs due to low soil fertility and insufficient availability of water on sugarcane plantations. In addition to ensuring the soil nutrient availability by applying fertilization technology, nutrient absorption efficiency also needs to be optimized by applying a biostimulant. The research objective was to study the effect of the biostimulant and silica application on the efficiency and effectiveness of sugarcane nutrient absorption based on vegetative growth parameters, sugarcane quality parameters, and sugar rendement. This study was taken place in one of East Java's sugar plantations from October 2019 to August 2020. There are four different treatments (P1, P2, P3, and P4) besides the control (P0), each with four replications. Data obtained were then statistically tested using a one-way Analysis of Variance followed by Duncan's Post-Hoc Multiple Range Test. All the treatments showed no significant effect on sugarcane growth parameters. Based on the value, P1 (addition of 200 kg/ha silica and 3 L/ha biostimulant) was the best treatment with Brix and Pol values of 21.60% and 19.46%, respectively (p>0.05). This treatment also showed the best increase in sugar rendement by 28.53% compared to control (P0), which was 12.30% (p>0.05).