Substitution of Chemical Fertilizers with Organics for Sustaining Sugarcane Productivity in Vertisol

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2002 to 2005 at Central Sugarcane Resaerch Station, Padegaon, Maha.rashtra (India) to assess the possibility of replacing chemical fertilizers by using organic sources and its influence on bio-physico chemical properties of soil, yield and quality of pre-seasonal sugarcane. Application of recommended dose of NPK with FYM and the recommended dose of NPK with trash incorporation recorded significantly higher cane (117 and 107 t ha· 1 ) and Commercial Cane Sugar yield (16.5 and 15.42 t ha· 1 ) for p lant cane and ratoon crops respectively. Results clearly indicated that, use of chemical fertilizers alone or organic manures alone were not found beneficial for sugarcane crop as compared to integrated use of chemical and organics. There were no much changes in soil pH and EC. However, soil organic carbon content and available nutrients were improved slightly in the treatments where, organic sources were used.