Effect of Integrated Nutrients Management on Cane Yield, Juice Quality and Soil Fertility Under Sugarcane Based Cropping System

Two field experiments were conducted at CCS HAU Regional Research Station, Karnal, Haryana, India during 2004–2007 on the plant–ratoon–plant sequence of sugarcane crops in and during 2008–2010 on plant–ratoon in sequence. In both the experiments, the application of NPK fertilizer increased the cane yield of plant (3.8–7.9 %) and ratoon crops (4.9–6.2 %) of sugarcane, over NP treatment. Cane yields produced with the application of farm yard manure (FYM) + N 1/2 P, press-mud (PM)/press-mud compost (PMC) + N 1/2 P, FYM + NP, PM/PMC + NP, green manure (GM) + NP were at par with application of NPK, respectively (cane yields produced with NPK were 83.0, 77.9 and 85.7 t/ha for plant–ratoon–plant crops, respectively and 76.3 and 90.4 t/ha for plant–ratoon crop, respectively). These treatments produced higher cane yield of plant and ratoon crop than NP fertilizers alone. The application of FYM + NPK or PM/PMC + NPK or GM + NPK produced significantly higher cane yield (3–5 % of plant and 5–8 % of ratoon crops) than the application of NPK alone. In both the experiments, the application of NPK fertilizer increased the CCS% of plant and ratoon crops of sugarcane over NP treatment. The application of organic manure (FYM or PM/PMC or GM) + N 1/2 P or NP or NPK increased the soil organic carbon (OC%) over NPK (from 0.39 up to 0.52 % in first experiment and 0.44 up to 0.48 % in second experiment). The application of NPK increased the available K in the soil over NP (from 180 up to 194 kg/ha in the first experiment and 142 to 150 kg/ha in second experiment). The application of organic manure (FYM or PM at 12.5 t/ha) + NPK substantially increased the available K in the soil (from 180 up to 200 kg/ha in the first experiment and 142 up to 154 kg/ha in second experiment).