Productivity, Profitability and Soil Properties Influenced by Planting Methods and Band Application of FYM in Autumn Sugarcane

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of planting methods and band placement of FYM on autumn planted sugarcane at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2005–2006 and 2006–2007. Soil of the experimental site was loamy sand with normal pH and electrical conductivity, low in organic carbon, high in available phosphorus and medium in potassium. The treatments comprised of four planting methods (pit with recommended seed rate, pit with double seed rate, recommended conventional flat method with wheat intercrop and paired row trench method with wheat intercrop) and three doses (20, 15 and 10 t/ha) of farmyard manure (FYM) as band application. The treatments were evaluated in factorial randomized block design. The results revealed that pit method with both the seed rates gave higher cane yield than the recommended conventional flat method and paired row trench method with wheat intercrop. In the context of profitability, paired row trench and conventional flat method with wheat intercrop were better options than pit method. When compared, band application of different rates of FYM, the 15 t/ha of FYM produced the statistically similar cane yield as the recommended rate of 20 t/ha. Therefore band application can help in reducing the FYM rate from 20 to 15 t/ha.