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

ABSTRACT 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...