Effect of different sources and levels of organics on sugarcane (Saccharurn officinarum)

An experiment was carried out to assess the effect of different sources and levels of organics on plant (2005–2006) and ratoon (2006–2007) sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) on a heavy black soil. Germination, cane length, cane girth, cane and trash yields of sugarcane were significantly affected due to the different manurial treatments both in plant and ratoon crops. Crop receiving recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF i.e. 250: 54.6: 103.3 kg N:P:K/ha in plant and 300:27.3:103.3 kg N:P:K/ha in ratoon) gave significantly higher cane yield of plant (106.2 t/ha) and ratoon (94.3 t/ha), net returns (1,14,568 Rs/ha) and net B:C ratio (1.99) of sugarcane. Application of poultry manure (PM) @ 5 t/ha at planting + castor cake @ 1 t/ha at earthing up in plant crop and Bio compost (BC) @ 10 t/ha at planting + PM @ 5 t/ha at earthing up were next best treatments after RDF. The nutrient uptake (NPK) of plant cane was highest with RDF but in ratoon crop, BC (10 t/ha) + PM (5 t) recorded highest uptake values. The BC + PM treatment also resulted in highest soil fertility after plant-ratoon cropping of sugarcane.