Effect of integrated nitrogen management on cane yield, juice quality and nutrient uptake of sugarcane ratoon crop

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in sugarcane ratoon crop at Sugarcane Research Station, Vuyyuru with an objective to study the effect of integrated management of nitrogen by substituting the recommended doses of nitrogen with organics such as neem cake, castor cake, vermicompost, azospirillum and green manures. Six treatments were replicated four times in randomized design. Variety tested was 99 V 30. The treatments include T1: 50% N through urea + 50% N through press mud cake + RDP & K, T2: 50% N through urea + 50% N through vermicompost + RDP & K, T3: 50% N through urea + 50% N through castor cake + RDP & K, T4­: 50% N through urea + Azospirillum @ 5kg/ha + 25% N through green manure + RDP & K, T5: 50% N through urea + 50% N through neem cake + 100% RDP & K and T6: 100% N through urea + RDP & K. Substitution of nitrogen up to 50% with organics rerecorded more yield compared to 100% recommended dose of nitrogen. Among the sources tried, castor cake resulted with highest shoot population at different stages of crop growth, cane yield, sugar yield and nutrient uptake by sugarcane ratoon crop followed by pressmud cake.