Soil Quality, Nutrient Uptake, and Yield of Sugarcane as Influenced by Integrated Application of Bioagents and NPK in a Multi-ratooning System
摘要
A field experiment was conducted during the 2019–20 to 2024–25 cropping seasons at the ICAR-Indian Sugarcane Research Institute, Lucknow, India, with the objectives to determine the effect of integrated application of microbial consortium (MC) and NPK fertilizers on soil organic carbon content and nutrients (NPK) availability and on growth and sugarcane yield attributes under multi-ratooning system. There was an improvement in soil organic carbon by 20.94% compared to the initial status (21.20 Mg/ha) after completion of one plant and five ratoon cycles. The available N in soil indicated that after the 2nd ratoon, it increased to 317.7 kg N/ha from 293.5 kg N/ha. In comparison with 100% NPK, the application of 75% NPK, along with the use of micronutrients such as Fe and Zn, was found to be superior to RDF (recommended dose of fertilizers). The application of sole organic, although it produced a higher number of millable canes and cane weight compared to 50% RDF, along with the use of micronutrients, could not compete with 75% RDF, along with other nutrients. The effect of nutrient management practices involving 50%, 75%, and 100% RDF, along with the use of micronutrients (Fe and Zn), and the use of various nutrients supplying/solubilizing microbial consortia significantly increased soil nutrient availability, crop growth, sugarcane, and sugar yields. Microbial consortia significantly affected dry matter accumulation, cane growth, and yield attributes. The mean yield of the sugarcane plant crop (110 t/ha) decreased to 88.7 t/ha (first ratoon), 76.7 t/ha (second ratoon), 64.2 t/ha (3rd ratoon), 55 t/ha (4th ratoon), and 48.4 t/ha (5th ratoon). A similar trend was observed in sugar yield. Thus, it can be concluded that an integrated application of 75% RDF and microbial consortia containing bioagents for fixing/solubilizing/supplying NPKZn, Fe can sustain sugarcane ratoon and sugar yields in subtropical Indian conditions up to the third generation in a multi-ratooning system.