Productivity, Uptake of Nutrients and Soil Fertility Status Under Modified Trench Method of Sugarcane Planting

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of U.P. Council of Sugarcane Research, Shahjahanpur, India for two consecutive years during autumn seasons of 2007–2009 and 2008–2010 to compare modified trench method of sugarcane planting with other prevalent planting methods for its production potentiality and uptake of nutrients and soil fertility status. The experiment consisting of five planting method treatments viz., conventional furrow planting at 90 cm apart (T₁), deep furrow (20 cm) planting at 90 cm apart covering setts with 2.5 cm of soil layer (T₂), paired row furrow planting at 120:60:120 cm (T₃), paired row deep furrow (20 cm) planting at 120:60:120 cm covering setts with 2.5 cm of soil layer (T₄) and modified trench planting at 120 cm apart placing setts across the furrow and covering them with 2.5 cm of soil layer (T₅) was laid out in randomized block design with five replications. Experimental results revealed that cane yield obtained under modified trench method of planting was 18.72, 23.87, 21.22, and 27.01 % higher than that of T₄, T₃, T₂, and T₁ treatments, respectively. Significantly highest uptake of N, P, and K (168.60, 87.31, and 254.46 kg/ha, respectively) was noticed under modified trench method of planting. The soil fertility status of soil observed initially and after the harvest of sugarcane crop clearly indicated positive effect of modified trench method of planting on soil fertility status. Thus, a favourable soil fertility helped better uptake of nutrients and cane growth, which ultimately resulted in higher cane yield under modified trench method of sugarcane planting.