Effect of sugarcane trash and enriched sugarcane trash mulches on ratoon cane yield and soil properties

Field experiment was conducted to study the effect of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) trash mulch (SM) at 6 Mg ha⁻¹ and enriched sugarcane trash mulch (ESM) with varying doses of inorganic N and P fertilizers on soil properties and ratoon sugarcane yield during 1997–98 and 1998–99. The ESM consisted of sugarcane trash at 6 Mg ha⁻¹ and industrial glue waste at 4 Mg ha⁻¹. The mulches significantly decreased surface bulk density and electrical conductivity by 2.0 and 6.4%, and increased in situ saturated hydraulic conductivity (KS), organic carbon (OC) content, soil moisture content and cane yield by 28.1, 19.6, 16.9 and 11.6% as compared to unmulched (control). The magnitude of increase in KS and OC was observed to be higher under ESM as compared to SM. The cane yield was also 3.1 Mg ha⁻¹ higher with ESM as compared to SM. The cane yield increased significantly with N application but it did not respond to applied P fertilizer. These results demonstrate that beneficial disposal of industrial waste for enriching the trash mulch has potential to improve soil properties while maintaining high cane yield.