Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology

The field experiment was conducted to study the integrated use of organic product viz., pressmud +  neem cake and seaweed extract along with inorganic fertilisers on yield, uptake and nutrient availability of sugarcane (BO 154) in alluvial soil rich in free calcium carbonate. The plot treated with pressmud + neem cake/seaweed extract either alone or in combination with inorganic fertiliser (100% NPK) significantly increased yield attributes and cane yield over control. The mean data indicated that highest number of tillers (101.44 x10³ /ha), NMC (76.68 x10³ /ha),  cane length (162.40 cm) and single cane wt. (863.3 g) were recorded in treatment receiving 100 % NPK along with pressmud + neem cake + seaweed extract in combination and lowest in control. The result indicated that integrated use of organic along with inorganic nutrient source was found superior regarding increasing cane yield up to the tune of 21.34% over control. However, juice quality parameters viz., brix, pol and purity coefficient remains unaffected. The mean sugar yield varied (6.71- 8.23 t/ha) significantly due to application of an inorganic and organic source of nutrients. The uptake of nutrients followed the similar trend as cane yield. However, the effect of various organic products viz., pressmud + neem cake and seaweed extract was found at par. The significant increase in organic carbon and available –N and available phosphorus were recorded in organic treated plots and being highest in treatment receiving pressmud + neem cake + seaweed extract in combination with inorganics over control. Thus, integrated use  of RDF (150–85–60 kg N–P₂O₅–K₂O /ha)  along with soil application of pressmud + neem cake ( 9:1@ 1 t/ha) or seaweed extract  (@ 1 kg/ha) was found favourable for improving yield and soil fertility status of sugarcane. It would be better to apply inorganic fertiliser with organics to sustain the productivity of sugarcane in calcareous soil.