Influence of fertilizer application methods, fertilizer levels and split application of potassium cane yield and nutrient uptake in sugarcane

Abstract

In plant and ratoon crop ploughsole method along with vermicompost recorded significantly higher cane yield (113.06 and 99.75 t ha-1 respectively), organic carbon (0.43 and 0.41 %), nitrogen uptake (258.15 and 197.99 kg ha-1 respectively), phosphorus uptake (27.25 and 22.75.72 kg ha-1 respectively) and potassium uptake (216.69 and 180.48 kg ha-1 respectively) compared to farmers practice of surface broadcasting. Application of 100 % RDF higher cane yield in plant and ratoon crop (122.60 and 109.21 t ha-1 respectively), organic carbon (0.47 and 0.44 % respectively), nitrogen uptake (313.22 and 212.17 kg ha-1 respectively), phosphorus uptake (33.12 and 24.88 kg ha-1 respectively) and potassium uptake (284.93 and 214.15 kg ha-1 respectively) than applying 75 and 50 % RDF in plant and ratoon crop. Split application of potassium 50 % as basal and 50 % at earthing up recorded significantly higher cane yield (109.51 and 95.79 t ha-1 respectively), organic carbon (0.43 and 0.46 % respectively), nitrogen uptake (232.54 and 167.89 kg ha-1 respectively), phosphorus uptake (24.44 and 19.59 kg ha-1 respectively) and potassium uptake (207.32 and 165.73 kg ha-1 respectively) than entire potassium as basal. Among all treatment combinations, application of 100 % RDF along with vermicompost in plough sole method and potassium 50 % as basal and 50 % at earthing up recorded the higher cane yield (142.84 and 117.40 t ha-1 respectively), organic carbon (0.51 and 0.48 % respectively), nitrogen uptake (434.72 and 282.15 kg ha-1 respectively), phosphorus uptake (48.26 and 34.27 kg ha-1 respectively) and potassium uptake (382.20 and 272.09 kg ha-1 respectively).