Sustaining soil health and productivity of sugarcane (Saccharum species hybrid complex) plant-ratoon system through integrated use of organic and inorganic sources in clay loam soils of Rajasthan

B.S. MEENA; D.S. MEENA; R.S. NAROLIA; S.N. MEENA

doi:10.59797/ija.v63i4.5686

Authors

B.S. MEENA Agricultural Research Station, Agriculture University, Ummedganj, Kota, Rajasthan 324 001
D.S. MEENA Agricultural Research Station, Agriculture University, Ummedganj, Kota, Rajasthan 324 001
R.S. NAROLIA Agricultural Research Station, Agriculture University, Ummedganj, Kota, Rajasthan 324 001
S.N. MEENA Agricultural Research Station, Agriculture University, Ummedganj, Kota, Rajasthan 324 001

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59797/ija.v63i4.5686

Keywords:

Integrated nutrient management, Net returns, Nutrient sources, Soil fertility, Sugarcane yield, Soil test recommendation

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2014–17 at Kota, Rajasthan to find out a suitable nutrient-management strategy for sustaining soil health and sugarcane production. The experiment consisted of 9 nutrient-management strategies, viz.T1, no organic + 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) in plant and trash 10 t/ha + 50% RDF in ratoon;T2 , no organic +100% RDF in plant and trash 10 t/ha + 100% RDF in ratoon; T3 , no organic + soil-test recommendation (STR) in plant and trash 10 t/ha + STR in ratoon; T4 , FYM 20 t/ha + 50% RDF in plant and ratoon; T5 , FYM 20 t/ha + 100% RDF in plant and ratoon; T6 , FYM 20 t/ha + STR in plant and ratoon; T7 , FYM 10 t/ha + Azotobacter + phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) + 50% RDF in plant and ratoon; T8 , FYM 10 t/ha + Azotobacter + PSB + 100% RDF in plant and ratoon; T9 , FYM 10 t/ha + Azotobacter + PSB + STR in plant and ratoon, laid out in randomized block design with 3 replications. Among the treatment combinations, application of 10 t FYM/ha + Azotobacter + PSB (12.5 + 12.5 kg/ha) + STR (150 : 50 : 30 kg N : P2 O5 : K2 O/ha) had significant influence on germination at 45 days after planting (DAP) (51.0%), tillers at 150 DAP (183,000/ha), number of millable canes (125,800/ha), cane yield (88.2 t/ha), commercial cane sugar yield (10.8 t/ha), net return (110,500 /ha) and benefit: cost (BC) ratio (2.00). Sugarcane-quality characteristics like brix (20.2%), sucrose (17.7%), commercial cane sugar (CCS, 12.2% and purity (87.4%) recorded were significantly superior with application of 20 t FYM/ha + STR (T6 ). Significant increase in soil organic carbon content (0.55%) and infiltration rate (4.69 mm/hr) were also noted under application of FYM 20 t/ha + STR over T1 and T2 treatments, while soil pH (8.12) and bulk density (1.34 Mg/m2) of soil reduced significantly. Available nitrogen (363.81 kg/ha), phosphorus (27.02 kg/ha) and potassium (331.13 kg/ha) in soil exhibited higher values under FYM 20 t/ha + 100% RDF, FYM 10 t/ha + Azotobacter + PSB + STR and FYM 20 t/ha + STR. Thus, the result showed that integrated application of FYM 10 t/ha + Azotobacter + PSB (12.5+12.5 kg/ha) + STR (150:50:30 kg N:P2O5:K2 O/ha) may be recommended for obtaining higher cane yield, net returns and sustained soil health in plant-ratoon system in spring season on clay loam soils of Rajasthan.

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