Integrated Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Yield, Quality Parameter and Nutrient Availability of Sugarcane in Calcareous Soil

Abstract

A long term experiment under rice–sugarcane plant–sugarcane ratoon I–sugarcane ratoon II–Moong rotation was started during May, 1993 at Sugarcane Research Institute, Pusa, Bihar to evaluate the long term effect of different levels of nitrogen applied either alone or in combination with organic manures on yield and quality parameter of sugarcane as well as on soil health. The number of tillers, millable cane count, sugarcane and sugar yield were significantly increased at higher level of N when applied with organic manure where as the effect of biogas slurry (BGS) was found more pronounced. Similarly, juice quality was also significantly enhanced at higher N level in conjoint with BGS. The nutrient uptake (N, P, K and Zn) by sugarcane crop was highest in treatment T4 (100 % NPK + 20 t BGS/ha). The bulk density varied from 1.36 to 1.48 g/cm3 and lowest bulk density was found in treatment T8 (100 % NPK + 10 t ST + 10 t SPM/ha) and higher pore space and water holding capacity were also recorded in treatment T8 (100 % NPK + 10 t ST + 10 t SPM/ha). The available N, P and K content in post harvest soil of sugarcane crop was increased with increasing N levels alone or along with organic manures. The correlation between physico-chemical properties of post harvest soil with yield and quality parameters of sugarcane was positive and significant.