Performance Evaluation of Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L) Cultivars under Varying Nitrogen Fertilization Levels: Implications for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is a critical nutrient for plant growth and development, regulating cell division, elongation, and biomass buildup. However, poor nitrogen management, particularly excessive and uneven application, results in low nitrate usage efficiency, higher production costs, environmental contamination from nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions, and deterioration of crop product quality. In sugarcane agriculture, uneven nitrogen fertilization exacerbates problems like as lodging, delayed maturity, and diminished juice purity, ultimately reducing the crop's economic viability. Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a major cash crop in Pakistan and around the world, but productivity in Pakistan remains suboptimal due to a variety of factors such as delayed planting, poor crop management, pest infestations, insufficient irrigation, and, most notably, an imbalanced use of nitrogen fertilizers. Excess nitrogen has a deleterious impact on sugarcane development by stimulating excessive vegetative growth at the expense of stalk strength and yield quality, resulting in reduced sugar recovery and economic losses. This study assessed the performance of four sugarcane cultivars (SPF 234, HSF 240, CPF 237, and CPF 243) at four nitrogen levels (0, 100, 200, and 300 kg N ha⁻¹) in Bahawalpur during the 2025-2026 season . The results showed that nitrogen treatment and cultivar differences had a substantial impact on germination, tillering, cane length, diameter, millable cane weight, and the number of millable canes per clump. The cultivar CPF 237 consistently outperformed all nitrogen rates, with improved yield-related attributes under increasing nitrogen input. The greatest nitrogen rate (300 kg N ha⁻¹) led to maximum growth and production. However, intermediate nitrogen levels (about 200 kg N ha⁻¹) are recommended to improve yield while avoiding environmental concerns and maintaining juice quality. These findings indicate that combining balanced nitrogen management with the selection of responsive cultivars such as CPF 237 can sustainably increase sugarcane productivity in Pakistan's semi-arid agro-climatic settings.

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