Insitu Mulching of Sugarcane Trash: Effective Tool for Soil Fertility and Productivity Enhancement of Sugarcane

Sugarcane is the promising sugar crop cultivated in our study areas as cash crop. The main problem associated with cultivation is poor management practices. Especially insitu stubble burning and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers vulnerably affects the crop yield. The present study explores the effective recycling of sugarcane trash in ratoon sugarcane with integrated nutrient management practice on soil fertility and productivity of sugarcane. On-farm trails were conducted in five farmers’ field with three treatments under randomized block design. Three treatments namely, farmers practice (FP) - Application of Di Ammonium Phosphate & Muriate of Potash each @ 250 kg/ha as basal dose, urea as top dressing @ 250 kg/ha& removal of residues and burning and no intercropping (Check), Recommended practice (RP) - 100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizers NPK @ 375:100:200 kg/ha, insitu mulching of trashes with application of NCOF waste decomposer, application of bio fertilizers @ 2 kg/ha, application of enriched sugarcane micro nutrient mixture @ 50 kg/ha and foliar spraying of sugarcane booster @ 4.5 kg/ha @ 45,60 & 75 days after planting and Alternate Practice (AP) - 100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizers NPK @ 375:100:200 kg/ha, insitu mulching of trashes with application of urea @ 50 kg/ha + Trichoderma viride @ 10 kg/ha and cowdung @ 100 kg/ha, application of bio fertilizers @ 2 kg/ha and micro nutrients i.e. iron sulphate @ 20 kg/ha, zinc sulpahte @ 10 kg/ha, borax @ 5kg/ha and sulphate @ 10 kg/ha. Soil samples were collected periodically at the time of ratoon establishment, 3-4 months after incorporation of trash and post-harvest stage of cane and analyzed its major properties. Yield data was collected and presented in t/ha. Insitu mulching with INM practice accelerated the favorable environment in the rhizosphere region. Especially conserved the soil moisture, controlled weed emergence and increased the availability of nutrients and favored the environment for earthworm population. It can be suggested that farmers cultivating ratoon sugarcane for more than a years, are advised to adopt trash mulching instead of burning in the same field. This package of practices enhances the soil health and productivity of cane significantly.