Sugarcane straw management by inoculation of microbial consortia and its impact on short-term N source and amelioration of ratoon sugarcane yield

Abstract

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study was to assess the effect of the inoculation of sugarcane straw with an artificial microbial consortium (MC) on soil mineral N, soil organic matter (SOM), sugarcane straw decomposition, hydrolytic enzyme activities (β-glucosidase, urease), oxidative enzyme activities (phenoloxidase, peroxidase), nutrient uptake and ratoon cane yield. The experiment consisted of two field experiments, i.e. the experiment I field was sandy soil, and the experiment II field was sandy loam soil in Khon Kaen Province. After planted cane harvest, there were three treatments, namely, burn (B), incorporation (I) and I+ MC treatments. Experiment II consisted of three treatments, namely, B, mulch (M) and M+ MC treatments. Sugarcane straw was applied at a rate of 6.25 tons ha−1. The results revealed that sugarcane straw management by inoculation of microbial consortia had a higher soil mineral N content than that of other treatments, improved the straw decomposition, hydrolytic and oxidative enzyme activities, SOM accumulation (7.60, 20.58 g kg−1 respectively), yield (49.47, 131.51 ton ha−1 respectively), nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency of ratoon cane. Thus, sugarcane straw management by inoculation of microbial consortia becomes a short-term N source and a potential application to enhance decomposition leading to increased ratoon cane yield.