Yield and soil nutrient balance of a sugarcane plant–ratoon system with conventional and organic nutrient management in sub-tropical India

Abstract

A 3-year field trial of sugarcane, comprising 11 treatment combinations of different organic manures with and without Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus (Gd), NPK and an absolute control, on an inceptisol was conducted to assess the effect of these treatments on sugarcane total and economic yield, the benefit:cost ratio, nutrient balance and soil quality in a sugarcane plant-ratoon system. The highest cane yield (78.6 t ha À1 ) was recorded in the plant crop given vermicompost + Gd, whereas ratoon yields (first and second) were highest (80.8 and 74.9 t/ha À1 , respectively) with sulphitation press mud cake (SPMC) + Gd. In both plant and ratoon crops, a number of different organic manures produced the highest cane yield that was also statistically similar to those obtained with using the recommended NPK levels (76.1, 78.2 and 71.7 t/ha for plant crop and subsequent two ratoons, respectively). The highest benefit:cost (B:C) ratio in the plant and two ratoon crops (1.28, 2.36, 2.03 respectively) were obtained with the addition of SPMC + Gd. The nutrient balance for NPK in the soil was highest in the SPMC + Gd treatment. The highest increase in organic C (94%) and total N (87%), in comparison to the initial level, and soil microbial biomass C (113%) and soil microbial biomass N (229%), in comparison to the control treatment, was recorded with the addition of SPMC + Gd. The maximum decrease in soil bulk density (BD) (12%) with an increase in soil aggregate (17%) and water infiltration rate (35%) was obtained with the addition of SPMC. Overall, the sugarcane crop responded well to different organic manures in a multiple ratooning system with a better economic output and improved soil quality. Strategic planning in terms of an integrated application of these manures with inorganic chemicals will not only sustain our soils but will also be beneficial for our farmers in terms of reducing their dependence and expenditure on chemical fertilizers.

Production Potential and Soil Fertility Status of Ratoon Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) as Influenced by Time and Level of Earthing Up and Nitrogen Levels in North-Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

“…Higher economic returns (Rs 326393/ha) with B: C (3.60) ratio was obtained at higher N doses because higher nitrogen levels increased the number of millable canes, fresh weights, dry matter contents, cane yields and stover yields. These results are in conformity with the findings of Singh et al (2007). The study also demonstrated that the profitability of net monetary returns (Rs 265707/ha) was fetched from 20 cm height of earthed up as compared to 10 cm earthed up crop during both the ratoon crops of sugarcane.…”

Avaliação agronômica de variedades de cana-de-açúcar inoculadas com bactérias diazotróficas e adubadas com nitrogênio

“…Produtividade de colmos, acúmulo de matéria seca e N total da parte aérea de cana de açúcar, das safras 2006/2007 e 2008/2009, com adubação nitrogenada, inoculação de bactérias diazotróficas e controle sem inoculação (1) . Além disso, o maior vigor, confirmado pelo aumento na produtividade, no acúmulo de matéria seca e N total na parte aérea das plantas com inoculação, observado na variedade RB867515, também poderia estar associado a outros efeitos promotores de crescimento, além da FBN, como produção de fitormônios (Fuentes-Ramírez et al, 1993;Suman et al, 2001;Bashan et al, 2004), solubilização de fosfatos (Singh et al, 2007;Shukla et al, 2008), aumento no teor de C orgânico do solo, aumento de N e retenção de nutrientes essenciais na rizosfera (Yadav et al, 2009).…”

“…Há muitas evidências de que a cana-de-açúcar seja beneficiada pela interação com bactérias diazotróficas (Boddey et al, 2003). As formas pelas quais a associação pode beneficiar o desenvolvimento e a produtividade das plantas são: a fixação biológica de nitrogênio (FBN) (Urquiaga et al, 1992); a produção de hormônios promotores de crescimento, como o ácido indolacético (Suman et al, 2001); a solubilização de fosfatos, (Singh et al, 2007;Shukla et al, 2008); o aumento no teor de carbono orgânico do solo; e o aumento de N e retenção de nutrientes essenciais na rizosfera (Yadav et al, 2009).…”

Integrated Nutrient Management in Sugarcane

“…Maximum decrease in soil bulk density (12%) with an increase in soil aggregate (17%) and water infiltration rate (35%) was obtained with the addition of sulphitation press mud cake (Singh et al 2007).…”