Abstract
The effects of tack of micronutrients on some biochemical activities of sugarcane grown in a calcareous sandy soil were studied. Synthesis of chlorophyll ? and ? was adversely affected; and accumulation of sucrose, hexose and free amino acids in the leaf was abnormal, along with persistent chlorosis in control plants. Application of Fe and Mn, particularly through foliar spray, was highly effective in correcting chlorosis of young leaves, improving manufacturing qualities of the juice and increasing cane and sugar yield significantly in comparison with control plants. Response of micronutrients was highly encouraging in improving the yield of commercial cane sugar (CCS) over control. Manganese, however, did not increase CCS as a percentage of cane from a significant increase in cane yield, but the CCS expressed as t ha-1 was about 27% greater than the control, indicating the positive need for Mn on such soils.
