Effects of Integrated Nutrient Management on Plant Crop and Successive First and Second Ratoon Crops of Sugarcane in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

Experiments were carried out with the objectives to reduce the yield gap of plant and subsequent ratoon crops, evaluate juice quality, as well as soil properties. A 3-year field experiment was utilized to assess the use of organic materials and inorganic fertilizers on plant and subsequent ratoon crops. The organic materials included press mud, farmyard manure (FYM), and green manure (GM) of Sunhemp (Crotalaria juncea); the fertilizers were urea, triple superphosphate (TSP), muriate of potash (MOP), gypsum, and zinc sulphate. Farm yard manure was applied at a rate of 15 t ha⁻¹ accompanied with a chemical fertilizer (N₁₇₈P₅₃K₅₄S₂₆Zn_2.6kg ha⁻¹), which produced yield of 108.4, 96.8, and 73.5 t ha⁻¹ in plant cane, first, and second ratoon crops, respectively. Cane yields in the first were recorded in plant cane first and second ratoon crops, respectively. Cane yields in the first and second ratoon crops were 89.3 and 67.8% of plant crop, respectively. Juice quality parameters viz., Brix, pol and purity percent progressively increased in ratoons crops as compared to corresponding plant cane. The organic carbon, total N, and available P, K, & S contents of soils increased slightly due to incorporation of organic materials. The result of the study revealed that 25% reduction of inorganic fertilizer with FYM or press mud at 15 t ha⁻¹ in plant cane and addition of 50% more N with same amount of fertilizer suggested for plant cane showed better yield and improved juice quality in first and second ratoon crops of sugarcane.

Keywords:

• inorganic
• organic
• fertilizers
• ratoon
• tiller
• millable cane
• yield
• fertility
• Saccharum officinarum