Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2000.852.853Saccharum officinarum L.)]]>AkhtarMaqbool Rafiq ChShahid Ehsan AkhtarM. Zameer KhanM. BashirKhurram 5200035An experiment was conducted to study the effect of varying P and K levels on agronomic traits and productivity of sugarcane at the National Agricultural Research Centre Islamabad during 1996-97. Application of either phosphorus or phosphorus and potash, along with nitrogen, significantly improved the filtering of sugarcane at early stages of growth. Millable canes per hectare were the maximum (130.7 thousands) with the application of 200 kg N, 150 kg P2O5 and 150 kg K20 ha1 and were similar to those treatments where lower doses of P2O5 and K2O ha1 were applied. Stalk height (290 cm) and girth (31.2 mm) were observed the maximum with the application of 200 kg N, 150 kg P2O5 and 150 kg K2O ha1 but statistically similar to those produced with lower levels of P2O5 and/or K20. Total soluble solids were similar at early stages of cane maturity at various levels of P2O5 and K2O and were maximum (20.8%) at harvest with 200 kg N, 150 kg P2O5 and 150 kg K2O ha1. Sugar recovery was also improved with the application of P and K. Maximum cane yield (138 t ha1 ) and sugar yield (16 t ha1) was produced with the application of 200 kg N, 150 kg P2O5 and 150 kg K2O ha1.]]>Akhtar, M. and J.A. Silva,199815126129Akhtar, M.,1999181521Akhtar, M.,19981998Anderson, D.L. and J.E. Bowen,1990Black, C.A.,1993pp: 171-175pp: 171-175Clements, H.F.,1980pp: 272-313pp: 272-313Andreis, H.J. and J.M. McCray,199829741754Buragohain, S.K.,199645937938Matin, M.A., T. Shinjo and T. Horiguchi,199741177186Matin, M.A., T. Shinjo and T. Horiguchi,1997415259Shand, C.R.,19971997pp: 230244