The Impact of Potassium Fertilization on Sugarcane Yields: A Comprehensive Experiment of Pairwise Demonstration Plots in Uttar Pradesh, India

Degradation of soil fertility due to significant nutrient demands by crops and imbalanced fertiliser application is very common in the arable lands of Uttar Pradesh, India. While practices of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) application have been established and disseminated, potassium (K) crop and soil requirements are almost ignored. Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is among the most important cash crops grown in Uttar Pradesh, however, productivity is low compared to its well-demonstrated potential. This study by the International Potash Institute, and supported by Potash for Life aimed to evaluate and demonstrate the principal contribution of K application in increasing sugarcane yield and profitability and to raise the awareness of stakeholders and growers of the vital need to develop balanced, K-inclusive fertilization regimes for this crop.