1Junior Scientist (Senior Scale), Soil Science, Sugarcane Research Institute, Pusa
2Junior Scientist, Soil Science, Sugarcane Research Institute, Pusa
3Junior Scientist, Soil Science, P.G. Department Sugarcane Research Institute, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa Samastipur, Bihar 848 125
4Director, Sugarcane Research Institute, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa Samastipur, Bihar 848 125
Sugarcane Research Institute, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar 848 125
*Corresponding author's Email: sanjewsinhasri@gmail.com
Online published on 9 October, 2017.
A field experiment was conducted for consecutive 6 years (from 2008–09 to 2013–14) at Pusa, Bihar, to evaluate the integrated effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer on soil organic carbon pool, nutrient status and productivity of sugarcane (‘BO 137’) plant-ratoon system in Typic Ustochrept. The application of organics, viz. farmyard manure (FYM), bio-compost and bio-methanated distillery effluent (BMDE), along with inorganic fertilizer (100% NPK) in canes plant and its residual effect in ratoon significantly increased number of millable cane, cane yield and sugar yield over the control. The highest increment in yield in plant (24.95%) and ratoon (16.05%) was observed in plots treated with BMDE @ 150 m3/ha. The mean uptake of nutrients (N, P, K and S) and sugar yield varied and followed the similar trends as cane yield. The soil organic carbon pool, viz. carbon storage (180.9–235.2 kg/m2), water-soluble carbon (52.8–82.4 mg/g), CO2 evolution (48.5–70.1 mg/100 g soil) and soil microbial biomass carbon (88.7–121 mg/g) varied significantly due to different treatments. The highest amount of soil organic pools were recorded in treatments receiving BMDE (150 m3/ha) followed by bio-compost (20 t/ha) and the lowest being in the control. Integrated use of organics with inorganic fertilizers facilitated the accumulation of organic carbon which in turn had significant increment effect on the soil carbon pool and fertility status (N, P, K and S) of soil with reduction in bulk density beneficial for sustaining productivity of sugarcane plant-ratoon system. Thus, it is imperative that application of either 100% NPK recommended dose of fertilizer along with bio-compost 20 t/ha or 100% NP along with bio-methanated distillery effluent 150 m3/ha (supplying 100% K) improved the fertility of soil which were reflected in increased productivity of sugarcane plant-ratoon system.
Cane yield, Carbon pool, Integrated nutrient management, Soil fertility, Sugarcane
