Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer on Growth, Yield, and Juice Quality and Residual Effects on Ratoon Crops of Sugarcane

Field experiments were carried out for three consecutive years (2003-2006) at Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute farm soil on plant (first crop after planting) and subsequent two ratoon crops of sugarcane. The main objectives of the study were to assess the direct and residual effects of organic and inorganic fertilizer on growth, yield, and juice quality of plant and ratoon crops. The plant crop consisted of four treatments. After harvesting of plant crop to evaluate the residual effects on ratoon crop the plots were subdivided except the control plot. Thus, there were seven treatments in the ratoon crop. Application of recommended fertilizer [nitrogen (N150), phosphorus (P52), potassium (K90), sulfur (S35), and zinc (Zn3) kg ha- 1] singly or 25% less of it either with press mud or farmyard manure (FYM) at 15 t ha- 1 produced statistically identical yield ranged from 67.5 to 69.0 t ha- 1 in plant crop. In the ratoon experiment when the recommended fertilizer was applied alone or 25% less of its either with press mud or FYM at 15 or even 7.5 t ha- 1 again produced better yield; it ranged from 64.8 to 69.2 in first ratoon and 68.2 to 76.5 t ha- 1 in second ratoon crops. Results showed that N, P, K, and S content in leaf progressively decreased in ratoon crops over plant crop. Juice quality parameters viz. brix, pol, and purity % remained unchanged both in plant and ratoon crops. Furthermore, organic carbon (C), available N, P, K, and S were higher in post harvest soils that received inorganic fertilizer in combination with organic manure than control and inorganic fertilizer treated soil. It may be concluded that the application of 25% less of recommended fertilizer (N112, P40, K68, S26, and Zn2.2.5 kg ha- 1) either with press mud or FYM at 15 t ha- 1 was adequate for optimum yield of plant crop. Results also suggest that additional N (50% extra dosage) keeping all other fertilizers at the same level like plant crop i.e. N168, P40, K68, S26, and Zn2.25 kg ha- 1 either with press mud or FYM at 7.5 t ha- 1 may be recommended for subsequent ratoon crops to obtain good yield without deterioration in soil fertility.