JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC RESEARCH FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY Impact Factor 1.393, ISSN: , Volume 2, Issue 6, July 2014

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1 IMPACT OF FERTILISATION ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF RATOON SUGARCANE IN THENI DISTRICT (INDIA) S. UDAYAKUMAR* DR. K. BASKAR** DR. B. BAKIYATHU SALIHA*** *M.Sc. Agriculture, Dept. of Soils & Environment, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India **Professor, 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 fertilisation on yield and quality of ratoon sugarcane variety Co at Palani Chettipatti village at Theni district, Tami Nadu, India. The soil of the experimental field was sandy clay loam with slightly saline and free of harmful salts. The soil was low in organic carbon and available nitrogen and high in available phosphorus and potassium. The treatments comprising recommended dose of fertiliser in different levels of NPK with combinations of zinc, sulphur, bio-compost and bio-fertilisers. The highest cane yield recorded in treatment received NPK based on soil test and the highest sugar yield and better juice quality recorded in treatment receiving bio-compost and biofertiliser along with recommended dose of NPK. KEYWORDS: Ratoon, Yield, Quality, Bio-compost, Biofertiliser INTRODUCTION Sugarcane is an important agricultural commercial cash crop, is grown on 4.5 per cent of the total cropped area of the country. Ratoon is unique in the sense that a number of succeeding sugarcane crops is raised from a single planting which is an integral component of sugarcane production system. India ranking fifth in the world in growing sugarcane on area basis, the country has 12 th position as regards recovery of sugar from the cane. In India more than 50 to 55 per cent of sugarcane acreage is occupied by ratoons, which are often poor yielders than the plant cane due to non-adoption of improved agricultural technologies. However, its contribution to the total cane production is about 30 per cent. The productivity of ratoon crop is 10 to 30 per cent less than the plant crop of sugarcane. In Tamil Nadu, sugarcane is cultivated to the extent of 0.35 million hectare (mha) with the production of 46.7 million tonnes of cane (an average productivity of 105 tonnes ha -1 ). Out of 0.35 mha of area under sugarcane, 63.4 per cent is planted and 37.6 per cent is ratoon. Among the cane growing states, Tamil Nadu stands third in area and production, and first in productivity, 566

2 which is about 40 per cent higher than the national productivity. About 46 sugar factories are situated in Tamil Nadu to meet the needs of cane processing and sugar production. Thus, even a small improvement in ratoon crop would add considerably to overall sugarcane production and ratoon crop often gives better yield, quality and sugar recovery than plant cane (Van Der et al., 2013). Ratoon keeping in sugarcane is economical for the farming community of which production cost is lower than plant crop by per cent along with saving of seed material. A ratoon crop matures prior to plant crop ensuring early supply of cane to mills. Under similar conditions sugarcane ratoon have a supplementary advantage of better juice quality and sugar recovery more than plant crop of same variety (Yadav and Chen, 1991). The Theni district which is situated in the western zone of Tamil Nadu, where sugarcane is the major crop cultivated to an extent of 7510 ha and average ratoon sugarcane productivity is 76 tonnes ha -1. In more recent times, a considerable gap between the potential and actual cane yields has been realized in different parts of Tamil Nadu and specifically in Theni district where the average yield (76 t ha -1 ) is lower than many other parts of the state. In this context, the present study on impact of fertilisation on yield and quality of ratoon sugarcane in Theni district was taken up. Material and methods Study site A field experiment was conducted in Palani Chettipatti (P.C.Patti) village of Theni district with test crop of Sugarcane (var. CO 86032) during to study the impact of fertilisation on yield and quality of ratoon sugarcane. The study site situated in Theni district at 9 o 28' and 10 o 12' N and 77 o 9' and 77 o 38' E and m. It is bounded by Dindigul district in the North, Madurai in the East, Virudunagar district in the South and Kerala state in the west. The district has a total geographical area of 2, 89,000 ha has a bimodal rainfall pattern and the mean annual rainfall was 765 mm. The rainy season covers June to December and maximum rainfall (50 %) is received during North East monsoon from October to December followed by South West monsoon from June to September which contributes 25% of the annual rainfall. The mean maximum, minimum and average air temperatures are 33.3, 23.5 and C respectively. The soil of the experimental site belonged to Somayanur series and according to USDA soil taxonomy is could be classified as sandy clay loam containing sand, silt and clay at the rate of 63.6, 12.8 and 23.6 per cent clay respectively with ph of

3 and moderately fine non arid kaolinitic isomegathermic family of Typic Haplustalf. With regard to the fertility status of the soil it was low in available N, high in available P and K. The field experiment was laid out in a randomised block design (RBD) with replicated thrice and ten treatments including STCR (Soil test crop response - 553:145:413 kg N, P 2 O 5, K 2 O ha -1 ), RSCL package (Rajshree Sugars and Chemicals Ltd - 350:150:150 kg N, P 2 O 5, K 2 O ha Elemental S (as Gromor) and ZnSO 4 25 kg ha -1, FeSO 50 kg ha -1 and Bio-A (Azospirillum), P (Bacillus subtilis ) and K (Frateuria) 2.5 l ha -1 ), TNAU package (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University - 375:100:200:100:37.5 for N, P 2 O 5, K 2 O, FeSO 4, ZnSO 4 kg ha -1 and Azospirillum and phosphate solubilising bacteria 2 kg ha -1 ) and RDF (Recommended dose of fertiliser - 350:150:150 kg N, P 2 O 5, K 2 O ha -1 and the treatments also comprised of 125 % and 100 % N, 100%, 75% and 50 % P 2 O 5 and K 2 O were used. The bio-chemical parameters viz., brix per cent, pol per cent, purity per cent and CCS per cent were estimated in the laboratory as per the procedure outlined by Meade and Chen (1977). At the age of 12 months, five stalk samples were collected and the analysis was performed on five stalk samples. The stalks were shredded using a cutter grinder. The shredded material was then mixed thoroughly and juice was extracted. Using lead acetate the juice was clarified and filtered. The polarization reading was taken by using Polatronic Universal and the juice was analyzed for quality parameters. Results The data on cane and sugar yield and quality parameters were presented in Table 1 & 2. The fertilisation had a significant effect on yield and quality of ratoon sugarcane. The highest cane yield of t ha -1 was recorded in STCR treatment (553:145:413 kg N, P 2 O 5, K 2 O ha -1 ) followed by RSCL package (350:150:150 kg N, P 2 O 5, K 2 O ha -1 + Elemental S (as Gromor) and ZnSO 4 25 kg ha -1, FeSO 50 kg ha -1 and Bio-A (Azospirillum), P (Bacillus subtilis) and K (Frateuria) 2.5 l ha -1 ), TNAU package (375:100:200:100:37.5 for N, P 2 O 5, K 2 O, FeSO 4, ZnSO 4 kg ha -1 and Azospirillum and phosphate solubilising bacteria 2 kg ha -1 ), 100 % NPK +S + Zn, 125% N + 100% P 2 O 5 and K 2 O and 100% NPK + Zn which were on par. The lowest cane yield of 106 t ha -1 was recorded in treatment received 100% N+ 50% P 2 O 5 and K 2 O. The STCR based recommendation significantly recorded the highest sugar yield of t ha -1 which was on par with the RSCL package and TNAU package which recorded the sugar yield of and t ha -1 respectively (Fig. 2). Application of 100% N and 568

4 50% P 2 O 5 and K 2 O of RDF recorded the lowest sugar yield of t ha -1 which was on par with 100% N + 75% P 2 O 5 and K 2 O. Table 1. Effect of fertilisation on Cane and Sugar yield (t ha -1 ) Treatment Cane yield (t ha -1 ) Sugar yield (t ha -1 ) T T T T T T T T T T Mean SEd CD(P=0.05) The quality of the crops is very important in deciding the economic value of the produce. Juice quality mainly depends upon genetic nature of the variety although nutrient management practices cause considerable variation in juice brix, sucrose, purity and CCS%. In the present investigation, the increased supply of nutrients due to various treatment and favourable soil environment created by the application of organics could have proportionately enhanced the growth which resulted in maintaining the juice quality under different treatments. In ratoon sugarcane, brix per cent, sucrose per cent and CCS per cent are the deciding factors for quality assessment. The quality parameter of ratoon sugarcane is given in Table 2. Among the quality parameters brix per cent was nonsignificant while significant effect observed in pol and CCS per cent. The RSCL package recorded the highest brix, pol and CCS per cent of 22.38, and (Fig. 3). The 100% N + 50% P 2 O 5 and K 2 O recorded the lowest pol and CCS % of and per cent, respectively. 569

5 Table 2. Effect of fertilisation on quality parameters of ratoon sugarcane Treatment Brix (%) Pol (%) CCS (%) T T T T T T T T T T Mean SEd NS CD(P=0.05) Cane yield (t ha 1) T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 T10 Treatments Figure 1. Effect of fertilisation on Cane yield of ratoon sugarcane Sugar yield (t ha 1) T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 T10 Treatments Figure 2. Effect of fertilisation on sugar yield of ratoon sugarcane 570

6 Figure 3. Effect of fertilisation on quality parameters (%) of ratoon sugarcane Discussions In the present investigation, the STCR based fertiliser recommendation was on par with RSCL package and recorded significantly higher cane yield of ratoon sugarcane (Fig. 1). With respect to RDF alone, the STCR and RSCL package recorded and 8.64 per cent increased sugarcane yield of ratoon sugarcane. Targeted yield concept strikes a balance between fertilising the crop and fertilising the soil. Achuthan et al. (1989) also observed that increased N application up to 450 kg ha -1 increased the cane yield. Similar findings were also observed by Choudhary and Ullah (2001) and Dev et al. (2011). These results proved the advantages of fertilisation on ratoon cane yield and also it implies that there are no deficiencies, no antagonisms and no negative interactions. The T 9 (RSCL package) recorded 8.64 per cent increased ratoon cane yield indicated that the use of inorganic fertilisers, bio-compost and bio-fertilisers in balanced manner resulted in higher productivity of ratoon sugarcane. This might be due to immediate and quick supply of plant nutrient through chemicals for tillers and steady supply of plant nutrients by organics throughout the growth period. The organics released nutrients following decomposition and mineralisation that would have increased the availability of plant nutrients at later stage and brought improvement in physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. These results are agreement with findings of Sharma et al. (1999), Rao and Veeranna (1999), Bangar et al. (2000) and Nagaraju et al. (2000). Response to higher level of nitrogen application in the ratoon crop has been reported from all the sugarcane growing states and it has been found that ratoon crop generally needs 25 to 50 per cent more nitrogen than plant cane (Gopalasundaram et al., 2012). Mahendran et al. (1995) also reported that application of 25 per cent extra nitrogen 5-7 days after ratoon initiation operation produced the highest cane and sugar yields in Tamil Nadu. Vijay Kumar and Mehar chand (2013) also reported the 571

7 same finding of application of 225:50:50 kg ha -1 conjunction with farm yard manure 15 t ha -1 significantly recorded the highest ratoon crop yield of t ha -1 and also pressmud 12.5 t ha -1 on par with full dose of NPK along with 15 t ha -1. The ratoon sugarcane yield started increasing with increase in balanced nutrients levels was reported by the many researchers (Muhammad Chohan et al., 2013, Khan et al., 2005, Patel et al., 2004 and Iqbal et al., 2002). The increase in quality attributes in the form of brix, pol and CCS per cent might be due to the balanced supply of nutrients through inorganic fertilisers along with bio-compost and biofertilisers, enhanced plants physiological activities which had improved the juice quality of cane. Improvements in sucrose (%) in juice owing to S application might be substantiated by the fact that S exerted a favourable cellular environment, so as to forestall the inactivation of iron that is responsible for iron chlorosis. As supply of S increased, plant ability to utilize iron is positively influenced (Choudhary and Sinha, 2001). Singh et al. (2008) and Singh et al. (2007) also found that S application along with adequate NPK improve juice quality due to an increase in the activity of sucrose synthesizing enzymes which also helped increase CCS yield. An improvement in juice quality with application of P and K has also been reported by Kumar et al. (2003). Sucrose per cent in juice improved significantly with the increasing levels of Zn upto 40 kg ha -1. These results are in accordance with the findings of Yadav et al. (1987). Singh et al. (1997) also observed a significant increase in brix per cent in sugarcane due to application of Zn. Sucrose per cent in juice improved significantly with the increasing levels of zinc upto 40 kg ha -1. Thangavelu (2007) also recorded significantly higher brix and pol per cent juice of cane grown with Zn fertilisation in addition to NPK as compared to those without fertilizers or supplied only with NPK. It may be that adequate and balanced fertilisation as well as micronutrients supply from organic sources increased juice quality parameters (Bokhtiar and Sakurai, (2004). Compared to RSCL package the STCR based fertiliser recommendation recorded lower quality parameters which might be due to higher dose of N addition resulting in vigorous crop growth leading to increased diversion of photosynthate and minerals to meet the requirements for vegetative growth. The results are in close conformity with the findings of Sammuels (1965) who reported that excess N delayed maturity and reduces juice quality and sucrose content. Also, utilization of photosynthate for sucrose accumulation might have been reduced, resulting in lower brix also reported by Rakkiyappan et al. (2007). As in the 572

8 case of sucrose per cent, the CCS per cent was also affected by the increased doses of applied N and the reduction in CCS per cent was probably due to the reduced sucrose per cent. CONCLUSION Based upon the experimental results it can be concluded that application of recommended dose of fertiliser with sulphur, zinc and organics like biocompost and biofertlisers improve the yield and quality of the ratoon sugarcane. References 1. Achuthan, M., A. Charimakkani and S. Rajasekaran Studies on the effect of different levels of nitrogen and time of application on yield and quality of early maturing sugarcane varieties. Bharatiya Sug., 14(4): Bangar, K.S., Parmar, B.B. and Maini, Ashok Extent of association of nitrogen and pressmud on cane growth, yield, nutrient uptake and quality parameters of sugarcane. Crop Research, Hisar 19(2): Bokhtiar, S.M. and K. Sakurai Effect of organic manure and inorganic fertiliser on soil fertility and the productivity of sugarcane in Bangladesh. The Planter, Kualampur, 80(940): Choudhary, C.N and U.P. Sinha Drymatter production, sugar yield and nitrogen recovery by sugarcane as influenced by concentrated organic manure, nitrogen and sulphur fertilization. Indian J. Agric. Sci., 71(1): Choudhary, A. U., & Ullah, Z Determination of optimum level of nitrogen and its effects on yield and quality of ratoon sugarcane. Pak J. of Bio. Sci, 4(4): Dev, C.M. R.K. Singh, Grurv Mahajan, 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) : Gopalasundaram. P., A. Bhaskaran, and P. Rakkiyappan Integrated nutrient management in sugarcane. Sugar Tech, 14 (1): Iqbal, A., Ehsanullah and K. Iqbal Biomass production and its portioning in sugarcane at different nitrogen and phosphorus application rates. Pakistan. Sugar J. 17(2): Khan IA, Khatri A, Nizamani GS, Siddiqui MA, Raza S, and Dahar NA Effect of NPK fertilizer on the growth of sugarcane clone AEC developed at NIA Tandojam, Pakistan. Pak J Bot. 37(2): Kumar, V., K.S.Varma. and O.P. Sagwal Effect of continuous application of different levels of potassium on yield and juice quality of sugarcane and economic return. Indian Sugar, 52(11): Mahendran, S., J. Karamathullah, S. Porpavai, and A. Ayyamperumal Effect of of planting systems and ratoon management on the yield and quality of ratoon cane. Bharatiya Sugar 22(1): Meade, G.P. and J.P Chen Cave sugar hand Book. 10 th Edn. John Wiley and Sons Inc, New York. 13. Muhammed Chohan. Ubedullah Anwar Talpur, Riaz Noor Pahnwar. and Saifullah Talpur Effect of inorganic NPK different levels on yield and quality of sugarcane plant and ratoon system. Intl. J. Agron. Plant Prod., 4(S): Nagaraju, M.S., C. Shankaraiah. and Usha Ravindra Effect of integrated use of fertilizer with sulphitation pressmud and azotobactor on growth, yield and quality of sugarcane. Co-op. Sug., 31(5): Patel, M.L., D.R. Delvader, L.N. Baraiya. and R.A. Patel Influence of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash on growth, quality, yield and economics of sugarcane cv. CO-N in middle Gujarat condition. Indian Sugar 54(8): Rao, S. and Veeranna, V.S Substitution of inorganic nitrogen through local organic manure in sugarcane. J. Maharashtra Agricultural University 23(2): Sammuels G The response of sugarcane to fertilizer application as influenced by irrigation. Proceedings Int Soc Sugarcane Technologist 12:

9 18. Sharma, B.L., Singh, P.K., Sharma, S. and Singh, S.B Sulphitation presumed cake in sugarcane. Integrated approach with inorganic nitrogen. Indian J. Agricu. Chem., 32(1&2): Singh, A., S.P. Rao, A.K. Gupta and H.P. Kushwaha Effect of P and S application on yield, quality of nutrient content in sugarcane. Indian Sugar, 47(2): Singh, K.P., A. Suman. and P.N. Singh Yield and soil nutrient balance of a sugarcane plantratoon system with conventional and organic nutrient management in sub-tropical India. Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosyst, 79: 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., Thangavelu, S., Zinc and sugarcane production-a Review. Indian Sugar, 57(5): Van Der Vyver C, Conradie T, Kossmann, J. and Lloyd J In vitro election of transgenic sugarcane callus utilizing a plant gene encoding a mutant form of acetolactate synthase. In vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology-Plant Yadav, D.V, T. Singh. and K. Singh Response of sugarcane to foliar application of micro nutrients. Indian J. Sugarcane Technol. 4: Yang, S.J. and Chen, J.M A review of fertilizer trials carried out by the Fiji Sugar Corporation between 1977 and Taiwan Sugar 38: