Effect of soil test based nutrient management on soil fertility, cane yield and quality of sugarcane (Saccharum species complex hybrid) in calcareous soil of Bihar

A field experiment was conducted at the Sugarcane Research Institute, Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, during 2012–13 to 2014–15 with an aim to assess the influence of different plant nutrients on yield and quality of the sugarcane in calcareous soils of Bihar. The treatments comprised different plant nutrients, viz. N, P, K, S, Zn, Fe, Mn and their combinations. The FYM @ 20 t/ha was also in one of the treatments. Number of tillers, single cane weight, number of millable cane (NMC) and cane yield were significantly influenced due to different treatments. A significant increase in cane yield was recorded with application of NPK (RDF) alone or in combination with secondary nutrient like S and micronutrients (Zn, Fe and Mn) over the control. Application of fertilizers on soil-test basis (STB: 200 kg N, 44.0 kg P, 83.0 kg K, 40.0 kg S and 5.0 kg Zn) recorded significantly higher NMC (97, 310/ha), cane yield (96.8 t/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.42) over rest of the treatments. The juice quality, viz. brix, sucrose and purity content, in cane juice was not affected significantly due to different treatments. The nutrient uptake and sugar yield were also higher in treatment receiving fertilizers on the basis of soil test. The maximum gain of N, P and K (62.3–7.7 and 24.3 kg/ha) was noticed in plot receiving fertilizer on STB. Thus, Soil test based fertilizer application proved the best for maintaining soil fertility and exploring higher productivity and profitability in calcareous soil of Bihar.