Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, S.V. Agricultural College, ANGRAU, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, 517 502
1Present address: Agricultural Research Station, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, 515001.
The results of a field experiment conducted on alluvial soils to study the effect of different organic manures along with inorganic fertilizers on physical, physico-chemical and chemical properties of alluvial soil and yield of sugarcane during 1994–96 in farmers’ fields of Kovur Sugar Factory area of Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh revealed that sugarcane responded to organic manures when used in integration with inorganic fertilizers. An additional cane yield of 14–27 t ha−1 was realized with different organic manures + inorganic fertilizers over inorganic fertilizers alone. Among different organic sources, FYM, pressmud and poultry manure proved superior in terms of cane yield whereas pressmud followed by poultry manure proved superior in terms of sugar yield. There was a slight reduction in soil pH and increase in electrical conductivity with the application of organic manures. At the end of ratoon crop, the increase in available N and Ca was maximum (38.2% and 24.4%) with the application of FYM whereas the application of poultry manure resulted in the highest increase in available P (122.2%), K (23.6%) and magnesium (47.4%) over the initial soil values. Application of poultry manure along with inorganic fertilizers resulted in higher cane yield in plant crop whereas, FYM along with inorganic fertilizers resulted in the highest cane yield in ratoon crop.
Integrated nutrient management, sugarcane, yield, soil properties, organic fertilizers
