Effect of Different Levels of Phosphorus on germination percentage, dry matter production and sheath moisture at different stages of Sugarcane as Influenced by Cane Trash and Mycorrhizae

The field experiment was conducted at RARS, Anakapalle on the effect of different levels of phosphorus on germination percentage, dry matter and sheath moisture at different stages of sugarcane in two plant crops and ratoon crop in presence and absence of cane trash and mycorrhizae. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four main levels and four sub levels. The main levels consists of control (M₁), mycorrhizae alone (M₂), cane trash and mycorrhizae (M₃) and cane trash alone (M₄). The four sub levels consists of 0, 50,100 and 150 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹. Higher germination percent was observed with the application of cane trash in combination with mycorrhizae (M₃) over cane trash alone (M₄) and control (M₁), but was on par with (M₂) i.e application of mycorrhizae alone. The lowest germination percent was recorded with control respectively in both the plant crops. Ratoon crop also showed significantly higher germination percent with cane trash plus mycorrhizae. The mean drymatter produced across the cane trash and mycorrhizal treatment was significantly higher at inorganic P level of 50 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹. The interaction effect in presence or absence of cane trash and mycorrhizae on inorganic P was not found significant at all the three stages. Higher sheath moisture per centage was recorded in the treatment receiving 50 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ in plant and ratoon crops. Significantly higher sheath moisture content was recorded when inorganic P @ 50 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ was applied in presence of both cane trash and mycorrhizae in plant and ratoon crop. The interaction between inorganic P levels with cane trash and mycorrhizae was found significant.