ABSTRACT
Sugarcane has the potential to produce 100 to 175 million calories per hectare per year. It is also the world's major source of sucrose sugar. The sugar produced from sugarcane is the major source of income for many countries and considerable effort is being spent to encourage its production. Where growth of sugarcane is restricted by climate due to low temperature or drought during part of the year, the growing season and thus the vegetative stage are short. Where conditions are favorable for the growth of sugarcane the year round, special care is needed in maintaining the vegetative stage. The nutrient needs of sugarcane can be assessed by soil analysis, plant tissue analysis and/or deficiency symptoms. One means of identifying nutrient problems of a growing crop of sugarcane is to interpret the growth and color patterns of the plant. Supplying crop of sugarcane with adequate nutrients at the right time is essential for the production of a good sugar crop.
