JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC RESEARCH FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY Impact Factor 2.417, ISSN: , Volume 3, Issue 12, January 2016

Transcription

1 EFFECT OF VARIOUS SOURCES AND LEVELS OF FERTILIZERS ON YIELD ATTRIBUTES AND YIELD OF SUGARCANE CROP IN MADURAI WEST BLOCK OF MADURAI DISTRICT R.P.PREMALATHA* DR. B. BAKIYATHU SALIHA** *M.Sc. Agriculture, Dept. of Soils & Environment, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India **Asst. Professor, Dept. of Soils & Environment, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted during to study the effect of various sources and levels of fertilizers on yield attributes and yield of sugarcane variety Co in Madurai West block of Madurai district, Tami Nadu, India. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with seven treatments and three replications. The soil of the experimental field was sandy clay loam with neutral ph and free from salinity. The soil was medium in organic carbon, available nitrogen and potassium and high in available phosphorus. The yield attributes and yield were highest with the application 100% recommended N and K along with 50% recommended P through 20:20:0 complex performed better compared to other levels and sources of fertilizers. The untreated control recorded the poor cane yield and yield attributes. KEYWORDS: Yield Attributes, Yield, Sources, Levels And Fertilisers INTRODUCTION Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is one of the important commercial crops which occupies a very prominent position on the agricultural map of India grown on 4.5% of the total cropped area of the country. India ranks second in the world in sugarcane production, fifth in sugarcane area and twelfth in sugar recovery. In Tamil Nadu, sugarcane is cultivated to an extent of 3.82 lakh ha with the total production of million tonnes of cane and productivity of t ha -1 which has to be inevitably improved. Despite India s large area under sugarcane cultivation, sugarcane yields have been unimpressive and during the last 10 years, sugarcane production has been fluctuating between 233 and 355 million tonnes (Thava Prakasa Pandian et al., 2014). The productivity of the cane in Tamil Nadu declined from t ha -1 ( ) to t ha -1 ( ) which has to be inevitably improved. 43

2 The widely varying soil fertility domain is a major limitation to reach this goal, which can be overcome by balancing N and P application with K, S and micronutrients (Singh et al., 2008).In the present agricultural production scenario, price of water soluble phosphatic fertilizers like single super phosphate, di-ammonium phosphate and other complex phosphatic fertilizers is hiked. Excessive usage or dumping of P fertilizers leads to increase in cost of cultivation, thereby affecting the economic feasibility of the farmers. So judicious use of fertilizers provides balanced nutrition to crop, according to actual requirement of crops and soil fertility conditions thereby enhancing the fertilizer use efficiency and crop yield. The objectives of this research was to determine the effect of various sources and levels of fertilizers on yield attributes and yield of sugarcane. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present investigation was conducted in Manjampatti village of Madurai West block of Madurai district with sugarcane (var. CO 86032) as test crop during to study the effects of various sources and levels of fertilizers on yield and quality of sugarcane. The experimental site is located at 10 o 02' North latitude and 78 o 10' East longitude with the altitude of 179 m above MSL. The soil of the experimental field belongs to Palaviduthi series, sandy loam in texture containing sand, silt and clay at 56.5, 25.0 and 18.4 per cent respectively with ph of 7.39 and comes under the taxonomical class of Typic Haplustalf. With regard to the fertility status of the soil it was medium in available N (320 kg ha -1 ) and K (209 kg ha -1 ) and high in available P (53.4 kg ha -1 ). The experimental field was ploughed twice and levelled after removing the stubbles. Farm Yard 12.5 t ha -1 was incorporated prior to the planting of sugarcane crop (var. CO 86032) for all treatments except control (T 1 ).Treatment wise P fertilizers were completely given as basal dose. Nitrogen and potassium fertilizers were given as basal and in three splits. FeSO 100 kg and ZnSO 37.5 kg ha -1 were applied basally for all treatments except T 1 (Control). The field experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design (RBD) replicated thrice and with treatments including T 1 (Control), T 2 (Farmers fertilizer practice), T 3 (RDF- 300:100:200 kg N: P 2 O 5: K 2 O ha -1 ), T 4 (100% N + 75% P 2 O % K 2 O (20:20:0)), T 5 (100% N + 50% P 2 O % K 2 O (20:20:0)), T 6 (125% N +75% P 2 O % K 2 O (15:15:15)) and T 7 (125% N +50% P 2 O % K 2 O (15:15:15)). The data obtained from different experiments were statistically analysed using AGRES software through factorial ANOVA for randomized block design to find out the effects of various treatments and Least 44

3 Significant Difference (LSD) was applied for comparing the treatment means. Analysis of variance was calculated as suggested by Panse and Sukhatme (1967). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Number of millable cane Number of millable canes is an important yield attribute which depends on the number of tillers and tillers survival capacity. Attempt to increase the number of millable cane (NMC) through enhanced tillering are of paramount importance in yield maximization of sugarcane. Even though a large number of shoots are produced in the initial stages, they die leaving only about 30-35% of the total number of shoots produced as reported by Assuero and Tognetti (2010).The experimental plots that received 100% recommended N and 50% recommended P through 20:20:0 complex along with 100% recommended K through MOP recorded significantly higher tiller production, higher uptake and utilization of plant nutrients which would have increased the number of millable canes (1,33,570 ha -1 ) as given in Table 1. The number of millable canes in T 5 was 61 per cent higher over the control (T 1 ). Inherent higher P status (53.4 kg ha -1 ) of the experimental soils also may be the reason for the better performance of the crop. Hence, 50% of recommended P along with 100% N and K was sufficient for exploring the maximum potential yield. However in treatments T 6 & T 7, there was a considerable reduction in number of millable canes which may be due to tiller mortality by application of excess N fertilizers as reported by Chaudhry and Corpuz (1984) and Inoue et al. (2009). The presence of S as sulphate (1.8 %) in the nutrient source and higher status of available S (44.0 mg kg -1 ) in the experimental soil might have mediated the nitrogen metabolism and increased the activities of nitrate reductase and sulphate reductase, thereby improving chlorophyll formation, which contributed greatly to increased number of millable canes and greater cane diameter. Similar results were reported by Bokhtiar et al. (2001) and Jamal et al. (2003). However, the lowest number of millable canes (82,870 ha -1 ) was recorded in control plot (T 1 ). Individual cane weight Individual cane weight is an important parameter in deciding the cane s tonnage. Optimum millable canes and maximum individual cane weight will decide the final yield. 45

4 The role of N, P and K in carbohydrate metabolism, cell division and translocation of starch and sugars maximizes the individual cane weight as indicated by Singh et al. (2009). In this experiment, the individual cane weight ranged from 1.16 to 1.58 kg as influenced by various sources and levels of fertilizers (Table 1). Among the treatments, 50% recommended P along with 100% recommended N through 20:20:0 complex and 100% K through MOP recorded significantly higher individual cane weight of 1.58 kg, which was 36 per cent higher compared to control (T 1 ). This is quite obvious as the complex fertilizer source that contains secondary plant nutrients like magnesium and sulphur which might have facilitated efficient uptake of plant nutrients thus contributing to better cane weight. However, the lowest cane weight (1.16 kg) was recorded in control plot, which may be due to the imbalance in the nutrient supply for crop uptake. Treatments Table 1. Influence of various sources and levels of fertilizers on yield attributes of sugarcane Number of millable cane ( 000 ha -1 ) Individual cane weight (kg ) Length of millable cane (m) Number of internodes Internode length (cm) Internode girth(cm) T T T T T T T Mean SEd CD (P=0.05) Length of millable cane, number, length and girth of internodes The cane length, number, length and girth of internodes are the important yield attributing parameters which directly and significantly influences the cane productivity. In the present investigation, the treatment with 100% recommended N and 50% recommended P through 20:20:0 complex along with 100% recommended K through MOP recorded the maximum length of millable cane, maximum number and girth of internodes ie., 2.95 m, 18.9 and 11.0 cm respectively followed by T 7 that received 125% recommended N and K along with 50% recommended P through 15:15:15 complex as depicted in Table 1. Similarly, T 5 recorded the maximum internode length (15.3 cm) which was on par with the treatments T 7 46

5 (125% N + 50% P + 125% K (15:15:15)), T 4 (100% N + 75% P + 100% K (20:20:0)) and T 6 (125% N + 75% P + 125% K (15:15:15)). This might be due to the maximum availability of all plant nutrients and synergistic effect of N and P through complex fertilizer sources in cell division and elongation as reported by Karthikeyan et al. (2003) and Thangavelu (2007). In addition, the treatment T 5 which has enhanced the Zn availability in the soil might have had a favourable effect on the biosynthesis of plant growth hormone IAA which would have increased the number of internodes, internode length and cane girth. This is in accordance with the findings of Rohtash and Singh (1997). The results of the present study is in endorsement with the findings of Thomas Mathew et al. (2003) and Dev et al. (2011) who reported that balanced supply of nutrients improves the girth and number of internodes. However, the control plots recorded lower length of millable cane, number, length and girth of internodes which may be due to mismatch between the demand and supply of nutrients. Cane yield The cane yield is mainly a function of supply of nutrients from the soil in adequate quantities and their timely utilization in metabolic process, resulting in buildup of sugarcane (Snehal Joshi and Pawar, 2005). The cane yield ranged between 70.2 t ha -1 and 149.3t ha -1 in control and treatment respectively. The effect of various sources and levels of fertilizers on cane yield was highly significant (Table 2). Application of 100% N and 50% P as 20:20:0 complex and 100% K as MOP (T 5 ) excelled the other sources and levels of nutrients by recording significantly highest cane yield of t ha -1 which was 61 per cent higher compared to farmers fertilizer practice (T 2 ). This might be due to complex fertilizers, which supply nutrients for longer period as they contains ammoniacal and nitrate-n, water soluble and citrate soluble P 2 O 5 and secondary nutrients like Mg and S which help in better uptake of other nutrients. Application of 100% N and K in combination with 50 % recommended P was sufficient to exploit the potential yield, which might be due to the initial high P status of the experimental soil (53.4 kg ha -1 ). The present study is in consonance with the findings of Vijay kumar and Verma (1999) who reported a linear relationship between soil available P and cane yield. The lowest cane yield of 70.2 t ha -1 was observed under T 1 (Control). In addition, the higher cane yield with Zn 35 kg ZnSO 4 ha -1 might be due to the favourable effects of Zn on the biosynthesis of plant hormone IAA, which in turn increased the plant height, number of internodes and millable canes as reported by Rohtash Kumar and Singh (1997). 47

6 Table 2. Influence of various sources and levels of fertilizers on cane yield (t ha -1 ) Treatments Cane yield (t ha -1 ) T 1 Control T 2 Farmers Fertilizer Practice (300:75:150 kg N: P 2 O 5: K 2 O ha -1 ) 93.0 T 3 RDF (300:100:200 kg N: P 2 O 5: K 2 O ha -1 ) T 4 100% N + 75% P 2 O % K 2 O (20:20:0) T 5 100% N + 50% P 2 O % K 2 O (20:20:0) T 6 125% N +75% P 2 O % K 2 O (15:15:15) T 7 25% N +50% P 2 O % K 2 O (15:15:15) Mean SEd 2.50 CD (P=0.05) CONCLUSION The experimental results on the effect of various sources and levels of fertilizers shows that 100% recommended N and K along with 50% recommended P with the fertilizer source as 20:20:0 complex improved the yield attributes and yield of the sugarcane. Hence, it can be suggested that the farmers whose soil test values continue to record higher status of available phosphorus can limit the application of phosphorus to 50% of the recommendation preferably through complex fertilizer sources for economic and efficient utilization of the nutrients by the crop. REFERENCES 1. Assuero, S.G. and J. A. Tognetti Tillering regulation by endogenous and environmental factors and its agricultural management. The Americas Journal of Plant science and Biotechnology, 4(1): Bokhtiar, S.M., G.C. Paul, M.A. Rashid and A.B.M. Mafizar Rahman Effect of pressmud and inorganic nitrogen on soil fertility and yield of sugarcane grown in high ganges river flood plain soils of Bangladesh. Indian Sugar, 51: Chaudhry, B.A. and I.T. Corpuz Profitability of fertilizers and dolomite application to sugarcane in Philippines. Sugar y Azucar, 79(3): Dev, C.M., R.K. Singh, Maharajan, M.K. Yadav and U.S. Ram Effect of date and level of earthing on productivity and nutrient availability in soils of ratoon sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum). Indian J. Agron., 56(4): Inoue, K., I. Yamane and T. Kaji Effect of nitrogen topdressing and number of tillers at maximum tillering stage on the field and extract quality of ratoon sugarcane cultivar Ni17. Japanese Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 80 (1): Jamal, A., S. Ahmad, S. Kumari, I.S. Fazli, R.U. Rahman and M.Z. Adiu Nitrogen and sulphur nutrition enhances seed and oil yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogea). Paper presented at 2 nd International Congress of Plant Physiology, 8-12 January, New Delhi, India. pp

7 7. Karthikeyan, P.K., S.K. Bonsal, Patricia Imas, M. Dhakshinamoorthy and R. Krishnasamy Effect of potassium fertilization on cane yield, juice quality and economics of sugarcane grown on farmers fields of Tamil Nadu. Fert. News, 48(10): Panse, V.G. and P.V. Sukhatme Statistical methods for agricultural workers. ICAR Pub., New Delhi: Rohtash Kumar and P.P. Singh Effect of phosphorus and zinc nutrition on yield and yield attributes of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) in calcareous soil of foothill region of Uttar Pradesh. Indian J. Agron., 42(4): Singh, S.B., G.P. Rao, S. Solomon and P. Gopalasundaram Sugarcane- Crop production and improvement. Studium Press LLC, Houstan, Texas, USA. pp Singh, V.K., A.K. Shukla, M.S. Gilt, S.K. Sharma and K.N. Tiwari Improving sugarcane productivity through Balanced nutrient with potassium, sulphur and magnesium. Better crops Int., Snehal Joshi and M.W. Pawar Effect of foliar application of phosphorus and micronutrients on cane and sugar yield. Proceedings of the 8th Joint Annual Convention of STAI, DSTA, SISSTA, on August at Hyderabad, Thangavelu, S Zinc and sugarcane production-a Review. Indian Sugar, 57(5): Thava Prakasa Pandian. R., B. T. Raghavendra, V. Karthik Pandi, G. Guru Pirasanna Pandi and P. S. Soumia Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI). Popular Kheti, 2 (2): Thomas Mathew, T.M. Kurian, Sosamma Cherian and G. Jayakumar Residual effects of sulphur nutrition on the ratoon crop of sugarcane. Sugar Tech, 5(4): Vijay Kumar and K.S.Verma Influence of phosphorus application on soil available phosphorus, yield and juice quality of sugarcane grown on P deficient soil. Indian Sugar, 59(8):