Effect of sugarcane monocropping on soil physical and chemical properties in texturally varied soils

The present study was formulated to study the effect of sugarcane monocropping on soil physical and chemical properties of different textural classess of popular sugarcane growing areas of Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. Results revealed that soil physical properties under monocropping were negatively influenced with increasing frequency of ratooning in all the textural classes. However more influence was observed under clay loam soils compared to sandy loams. The data on soil fertility status in different ratoons indicated that the available macro nutrient status and soil organic carbon content was higher in all the surface soils compared to subsurface soils and it was the highest in clay loam soils followed by red loam and sandy loams soils. With in different textural classes, clay loam soils exhibited the highest micronutrient status followed by red loams and sandy loam soils.