Soil enzymatic activity and yield of sugarcane short crop as influenced by fertilizers and microbial inoculants

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Perumallapalle, Tirupati, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh, India during 2021-22 to study the effect of fertilizers and microbial inoculants on soil enzymatic activity and yield of sugarcane short crop. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with ten treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments consist of 75%, 100% and 125% RDF in combination of solid and liquid microbial inoculants (Gluconacetobacter, PSB and KSB). Data on soil urease, dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity and yield were recorded. Among the ten treatments 100% RDF along with soil application of liquid Gluconacetobacter @ 10 kg ha-1, PSB @ 1.25 kg ha-1 and KSB @ 1.25 kg ha-1 resulted significantly the highest urease (256, 290 and 265 µg urea hydrolyzed g-1 soil h-1 at tillering, grand growth and harvest stages, respectively), dehydrogenase (69.05, 77.87 and 73.80 µg TPF g-1 soil h-1 at tillering, grand growth and harvest stages, respectively), acid phosphatase (44.82, 52.84 and 47.05 µg p-nitrophenol g-1 soil h-1 at tillering, grand growth and harvest stages, respectively) and alkaline phosphatase activity (76.25, 91.34 and 83.26 µg p-nitrophenol g-1 soil h-1 at tillering, grand growth and harvest stages, respectively). Significantly the highest cane yield (97 t ha-1) was recorded with 100% RDF along with sett treatment with liquid Gluconacetobacter @ 10 kg ha-1, PSB @ 1.25 kg ha-1 and KSB @ 1.25 kg ha-1.