Effect of various priming techniques of single eye bud setts and fertilizer levels on growth, yield attributes and yield of sugarcane

Abstract

The results of the field experiment entitled "Effect of various priming techniques of single eye bud setts and fertilizer levels on growth, yield attributes and yield of sugarcane" conducted at College Farm, N. M. College of Agriculture, NAU, Navsari (Gujarat) during the rabi seasons of 2022-2023, and 2023-24.The soil of the experimental field was clay in texture, with normal electrical conductivity.The soil was low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, medium in available P2O5, high in available K2O and slightly alkaline in reaction during both the year, respectively.Initial and final plant population did not exert any significant influence by different priming techniques.Significantly higher plant height at different growth stages, number of tillers per plant at 120 DATP, number of internodes per plant, number of millable canes per hectare and cane yield were recorded by treatment P4 (priming of cane setts in a mixture of cattle dung, cattle urine and water (1:2:5 ratio) along with Acetobacter, PSB and KMB (1:1:1 ratio, each at 10 ml/litre) for 30 minutes) but it was found statistically at par with treatment P3 during both the year and in pooled analysis.The highest gross return, net return and B:C ratio were obtained with the treatment P4 followed by treatment P3 on pooled basis.Initial and final plant population was not influenced by the different fertilizer levels.Fertilizing the sugarcane with 125% RDF + soil treatment of biofertilizer (Acetobactor + PSB + KMB each @ 1 lit/ha) at 1 month after planting (F6) recorded significantly higher plant height at different growth stages, number of tillers per plant at 120 DATP, number of internodes per plant, number of millable canes per hectare and cane yield which was statistically at par with the treatment F5 during both the year and in pooled analysis.Treatment F6 gave the highest gross return, net return and B:C ratio followed by treatment F5 on pooled basis.