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A field experiment was conducted from 2016 to 2018 at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, to study the effect of integration of bio-products and inorganic fertilizers on soil quality parameters, growth and yield of sugarcane and also to assess the possibilities of reduction in inorganic fertilizers doses, if any through the integration of bio-products with inorganic fertilizers. Eight treatments of various bio-products in different combinations were applied on sugarcane plant and ratoon crops. These treatments were replicated three times in randomized block design. Inclusion of dharmarut (DHA), diamond (DIA), sugar factory kit (SF kit), and bio NPK kit with a recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) improved about 18.4% soil organic carbon (SOC) in sugarcane ratoon crop (13.37 Mg/ha). However, a 40% reduction in NPK could also improve SOC by 7.9% over the control (11.29 Mg/ha). Application of SF kit and bio NPK kit with RDF improved available N content in soil by 15.5% over the control. SF and bio NPK kits and NPK also improved available P in soil significantly over the control. Integration of DHA, DIA, SF kit, and bio NPK kit with 100% RDF improved 11.41% available K in the soil as compared to control plot (289 kg/ha). However, reduction in NPK with similar bio-products improved 15.6% available K after harvesting of ratoon crop compared to control plot. Mean available K content in soil (305.5 kg/ha) after harvesting ratoon crop was recorded higher by 43.6 kg/ha than after harvesting of plant crop. Integrated use of DHA, DIA, SF kit, and bio NPK kit along with 100% RDF improved sugarcane yield by 38.58% and 30.0% in sugarcane (plant) and ratoon crops, respectively, over the control (RDF). Such improvements in sugarcane yield also improved sugar yield by 30.4% and 26.4% in plant and ratoon crops, respectively, over the recommended NPK through chemical fertilizers alone. Integrated use of these bio-products with 60% RDF also resulted in an improvement of 16.65% and 19.0% cane yield in plant and ratoon crops, respectively, over the RDF. Such improvement in yield could contribute additional sugar production by 9% and 18.5% in sugarcane plant and ratoon crops, respectively, over the recommended dose of NPK (RDF). Thus, the integration of bio-products with NPK holds great promise for various sugarcane growing regions and categories of farmers to harness sustainable yield increases in sugarcane-based systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field experiment was conducted during 2016–2018 and 2018–2020 at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow (IISR) research farm. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with eight treatments in rice-wheat-rice-wheat and sugarcane–ratoon–wheat cropping systems with/without application of Trichoderma viride. Mean experimental results obtained for both the cropping systems revealed that in the rice-wheat-rice-wheat (RWRW) cropping system, about one-third of crop residues produced could be recycled effectively with Trichoderma inoculation. However, in the sugarcane–ratoon–wheat (S.R.W.) system, complete residues (trash) could be applied in the subsequent ratoon crop. In the rice-wheat-rice-wheat cropping system, crop residue supplemented a mean 26.49 kg N, 7.12 kg P, and 12.55 kg K ha−1 year−1. However, the corresponding values for sugarcane–ratoon–wheat system were 56.13 kg N, 7.19 kg P, and 44.09 kg K ha−1 year−1.The population of soil bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes could be increased after crop residue retention/trash mulching. Thus, improved soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), soil microbial biomass N (SMBN), and soil respiration (S.R.) could be recorded. The highest S.O.C. was sequestered with trash mulching + Trichoderma. The crop residues added the soil nutrients (N.P.K.) status and the improved rhizospheric environment through improving soil physical, chemical, and biological properties after completion of the crop cycle. Sugarcane, rice, and wheat yields in the system could also be enhanced by crop residue addition and inoculation of T. viride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, five states, viz., Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Bihar, contribute about 84.64% sugarcane production of the country and occupy about 82.46% cropped area. The mean productivity of these states is also higher as compared to remaining states. However, the yield gap up to 33.0 t ha−1 prevails among these states. The performance of technologies in different states also varies depending on constrains and potentials of the region. Thus, the objectives of our study were (1) to assess the yield gap between attainable yield and farmers yield in potential sugarcane-growing states of the country and (2) to determine the long-term relationship between improved technologies and sugarcane yields at various levels. Yield gap analysis revealed that Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest positive correlation between period and sugarcane yield (R2 = 0.917/r = 0.96) and showed that technological advancements caused linear increase in sugarcane yield. Out of eight technologies, five technologies, i.e. improved variety, pit method of planting, intercropping, drip irrigation and ratoon management, enhanced sugarcane yield by > 20% and could be placed as top rankers. In Maharashtra, improved variety, ratoon management, intercropping and integrated nutrient management were recorded as top rankers and improved sugarcane yields in the range of 20.44–31.29%, individually. In Karnataka, drip irrigation, intercropping, ratoon management and improved varieties increased > 20% sugarcane yield as compared to state average sugarcane yield. However, wide row spacing and INM could increase yield level in the range of 15.17% and 17.65%, respectively. In Tamil Nadu, the various technologies could increase about 4.35–35.87% higher sugarcane yields as compared to farmers practice. Pit method planting showed the highest improvement in yield (35.87%). Improved varieties, integrated weed management, intercropping and ratoon management showed positive effect in the range of 13.28–19.0% as compared to mean of technologies demonstrated in five states. In Bihar, the improved variety contributed 40.2% yield increase as compared to state average yield (59.25 t ha−1). Ratoon management (35.14%) and intercropping in sugarcane (31.76%) could also be ranked in the top category in increasing sugarcane yields. Thus, it could be recorded that improved variety in Maharashtra and Bihar, pit/trench method of planting in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu drip irrigation and ratoon management in Karnataka are the major technologies contributing in sugarcane yield. Therefore, these technologies need to be promoted in the potential sugarcane-growing states to improve the national average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium plays an important role in the metabolism of plants, growth, development and yields. Worldwide, KCl is commonly used as source of K fertilizer in agricultural crops. The present experiment was taken up to assess the response of various sources of K on physiological attributes, yield and quality parameters of sugarcane. Treatments were no K application, potassium ammonium sulphate (H4KNO4S-9:0:30:20, NPKS ratio), slow release K fertilizer (0:0:45:0), sulphate of potash/potassium sulphate (K2SO4-0:0:50:17.5), muriate of potash (KCl-0:0:50:0) and muriate of potash (KCl) + elemental S @ 40 kg ha−1. Application of K2SO4 recorded 15.8% improvement in tiller population (during peak tillering stage) and 22.2% improvement in dry matter accumulation (at the harvest stage) over the KCl. About 12.33–24.16% increments in crop growth rate and the highest net photosynthetic rate (19.91 µmol m−2 s−1) were also recorded with application of K2SO4. Application of K fertilizers improved the availability of potassium in soil by 8.17% (254.2 kg ha−1). Potassium uptake in sugarcane crop ranged from 245 to 347 kg ha−1. The highest individual cane length (311 cm) was measured with application of K2SO4. Application of K2SO4 brings forth about 23.8% increments in millable canes, 14% in cane weight and 33.8% in cane yield over no K. Application of K also increased mean sucrose content in juice by 0.58 unit (17.0 pol per cent juice) over no use of K. Overall effect of K application on increasing sugarcane yield and sucrose content simultaneously brought forth improvement in commercial cane sugar (CCS) by 29.43% (10.50 t/ha) over no use of K. However, application of K2SO4 also improved CCS by 25.89% (11.67 t/ha) over the application of KCl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiment was conducted during spring season to study the effect of Silixol Sugarcane on growth, yield and juice quality attributes of sugarcane. Treatments comprised two sets with three doses of Silixol @ 2 ml, 4 ml and 8 ml/l of water: Set I—application was done at five critical stages of growth and Set II—Silixol was applied in every month till maturity. Application of Silixol Sugarcane improved bud germination with increasing dose, highest being @ 4 ml/l. Higher specific leaf weight was observed in treated plants as compared to control. Silixol Sugarcane application showed improvement in plant height at various growth stages, being highest at grand growth stage. Dry matter partitioning in leaf, stalk, leaf sheath and root tissues indicates that Silixol Sugarcane application has positive effect on physiological processes. At grand growth stage, maximum dry matter accumulation was recorded in stalks of all treatments. Activity of nitrate reductase, an indispensible enzyme for nitrogen metabolism, in leaves is improved by Silixol application. Silicon content determined in leaf tissues increased with an increase in the Silixol level; highest was obtained with 8 ml/l, and lowest was in control. Silixol Sugarcane application had a positive impact on cane yield attributes viz., cane length and girth, which contributed to more cane yield. Juice quality attributes viz., Brix, juice purity, sucrose, CCS% juice, were relatively better in treated canes. Monthly application of Silixol even at higher dose has no negative impact on plant growth and yield, indicating that the formulation is completely safe. Findings of the present study indicated that applications of Silixol Sugarcane @ 4 ml/l at five critical stages could lead to a yield increment up to 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted at ICAR-IISR, Lucknow, in a split-plot design with two cropping systems and eight different crop residue management practices. In main plots, cropping systems, viz. CS-rice-wheat (R-W) and CS-sugarcane (plant crop)-ratoon-wheat (S-R-W) and subplots residue management practices, viz. residue removal (T-RR); residue burning (T-RB); residue incorporation (T-RI); residue incorporation + Trichoderma (T-RI + T), residue incorporation +25 % extra nitrogen application (T-RI + N), partial residue incorporation (T-PRI), partial residue incorporation + Trichoderma (T-PRI + T) and partial residue incorporation +25 % extra nitrogen application (T-PRI + N), were allocated. The observations on soil physical parameters indicated the lower mean bulk density (1.10 Mg m) in sugarcane-ratoon-wheat system than the rice-wheat system (1.145 Mg m). Increased porosity (58.68 %) was obtained in sugarcane-ratoon-wheat (S-R-W) system as compared to rice-wheat system (56.83 %). In S-R-W system, higher (19.51 %) SOC was recorded than the R-W system (16.31 Mg ha) at 0-15 cm depth. After harvesting of wheat in both the cropping systems, higher total carbon sequestered (@1.42 Mg ha) in S-R-W system than the R-W cropping system (0-15 cm soil depth). Higher contents of available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium were recorded in S-R-W system than the R-W system after completion of crop cycle. The agronomic efficiency of rice, wheat and sugarcane crops indicated the higher level with residue incorporation along with Trichoderma application. Thus, it could be concluded that sugarcane-ratoon-wheat system acted as soil fertility restorer and crop reside management along with application of Trichoderma sustained the soil carbon level, crop productivity and agronomic/production efficiency of N for longer period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of silica granules in the form of orthosilicic acid on growth, yield and juice quality attributes of sugarcane variety CoLk 94184 at IISR experimental farm, Lucknow. The treatments comprised of control (T1), orthosilicic granules @20 (T2), 40 (T3) and 80 kg/ha (T4) and calcium silicate @2 t/ha (T5). Silica application showed higher shoot population, specific leaf weight and total dry matter accumulation relative to control. Cane girth, cane height and cane yield were increased due to silica application. Highest increase in these traits was obtained in T3 treatment. Juice quality attributes, viz. °Brix, sucrose percent juice, juice purity, juice extraction, CCS percent juice, S/ R ratio and SPS activity, were higher in silica-treated plants relative to control. CCS increase was recorded about 15.2-31.8 % over control with highest increase (31.8 %) in T4 treatment. Soluble silica content was significantly higher in leaf and root tissues of treated plants. Findings suggest that application of orthosilicic acid may be beneficial in improving cane yield and juice quality of sugar cane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment during 2010-2014 was conducted at Indian institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, with three tillage practices ( T : control-two times ploughing through harrow and cultivator, each followed by planking before sugarcane planting, T : deep tillage through disc plough (depth 25-30 cm) before planting followed by harrowing, cultivator and planking and T : subsoiling at 45-50 cm, and deep tillage through disc plough/mouldboard plough (depth 25-30 cm) followed by harrowing, cultivator and planking before planting), two soil moisture regimes ( M : 0.5 IW/CPE ratio and M : 0.75 IW/CPE ratio) at 7.5 cm depth of irrigation water, and four N levels (N-0; N-75; N-150; N-225 kg N/ha) in sugarcane crop. The higher mean SMBN (16.61 mg NH-N/m/day) during sugarcane ratoon crop was analysed as compared to plant crop (12.97 mg NH-N/m/day). Suboptimal moisture regime (0.5 IW/CPE) in plant crop reduced SMBN at all the stages of growth as compared to optimum moisture regime (0.75 IW/CPE). Mean SMBN at 0.5 IW/CPE was observed as 16.22 mg NH-N/m/day vis- à- vis 17.00 mg NH-N/m/day at 0.75 IW/CPE. The increasing levels of N up to 225 kg/ha increased SMBN at all the stages in both the soil depths, i.e. 0-15 and 15-30 cm (17.60 mg NH-N/m/day at 225 kg N/ha over 15.56 mg NH-N/m/day at N). Deep tillage and subsoiling ( T ) at 0.75 IW/CPE ratio and 225 kg N/ha showed the highest mean soil respiration (158 mg CO-C/m/day). In sugarcane plant crop, at the highest N application (225 kg N/ha), M (0.50 IW/CPE) showed the lowest available N, i.e. 160 kg N/ha vis- à- vis 186.00 kg/ha at 0.75 IW/CPE ( M ) with conventional tillage ( T ). Deep tillage increased production of millable canes which could be increased to 100,830/ha in sugarcane plant crop and 106,710/ha in ratoon crop. Mean sugarcane and sugar yields in plant crop was 68.97 and 8.28 t/ha vis- à- vis 83.67 and 10.03 t/ha in ratoon crop, respectively. Sugarcane plant crop showed 21.52 % increase in cane weight (774.75 g) due to adoption of deep tillage and subsoiling. Thus, it could be concluded that subsoiling at 45-50 cm depth followed by deep tillage at 20-25 cm depth once before planting of sugarcane with scheduling of irrigation at 0.75 IW/CPE soil moisture regime and 150 kg N/ha sustained soil microbial biomass N and in situ soil respiration besides increasing sugarcane and sugar yields in plant-ratoon system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulses have very good opportunity to find place in different agro-ecosystems. Nowadays, soil organic carbon and crop productivity have become major concerns in sustainable agriculture. Since last six decades in our country, improvement in productivity of most of the field crops has been obtained but much success could not be achieved in increasing area and productivity of pulse crops. From 1980-1981 to 2013-2014, the total cropped area under pulses in India increased from 22.46 to 25.21 m ha with the peak of 26.40 m ha in 2010-2011. Due to stagnant production and an increase in population, the per capita availability of pulses has been declined in the range of 35.4 g to 47.2 g/capita/day during 2009-2014. Significant increment in area and productivity of pulse crops is possible by intercropping of these crops with sugarcane which is grown in more than 5.15 million ha area in India. Thus, in irrigated agro-ecosystem, there is a great scope of increasing area under pulse crops through crop diversification/intensification besides improving their productivity. Adoption of pulse crops with autumn (October)-planted cane in furrow-irrigated raised-bed system where sugarcane is planted in furrows and component crop is planted on raised beds also provides great scope for increasing crop productivity and optimizing input use efficiencies in the system. Crop residues recycling of pulses addresses the key issue of decreasing soil organic carbon created due to indiscriminate/imbalanced use of fertilizers and lower use/unavailability of organic manures. Mechanization of diversified cropping systems will certainly boost the adoption of recommended technologies by the farmers. Various tractor-drawn implements for planting of sugarcane and component pulse crops have been developed. Mechanical harvesters for pulse crops have already been developed and are being used by the farmers. Thus, cost of production could be reduced and profitability may be increased with introduction of these crops in irrigated agro-ecosystem besides improving soil fertility and sustainability for longer period. In present paper, authors presented the opportunities of agronomic interventions for pulse crops in sugarcane-based system to improve the crop productivity, profitability and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane being a long duration crop of 10-18 months faces many biotic and abiotic stresses which causes heavy losses in cane production and productivity. Timely and accurate diagnosis, of disorders that appear in crop due to these stresses, is required to reduce the losses. Paper illustrates CaneDES, an expert system to diagnose disorders in sugarcane caused by various biotic and abiotic stresses. It is a web based system available in both Hindi and English languages with remote accessibility to sugarcane farmers. A new classified knowledge representation technique has been adopted for the development of expert system, to manage the diagnostic knowledge efficiently. System was evaluated with the help of domain experts and extension personnel engaged in the services of sugarcane farmers. Evaluation was made in terms of time taken by extension personnel in diagnosis of disorder and confidence factor received from the system and results indicated high usability and efficiency of the system. System is of generic nature and can be used in other crop environment with changes in knowledge base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane is one of the most efficient quantum converters, endowed with vast tillering, ratooning and biomass potential. Vast tillering potential, innumerable root primordia, two types of roots and emergence of leaves constitute a Compensatory Physiologic Continuum which imparts this plant a unique ability to tide over abiotic stress conditions, gaps in the field and agro-physiological disorders arising in its 12-18 months long cycle. Despite this, the recorded yields of sugarcane are about 168 mt ha year that is just 36 % of the theoretical maximum of 470 mt ha year (in Hawaii) and in India it is only 28.6 % of the theoretical maximum. The knowledge of the physiological constraints for improving the productivity by increasing the crop efficiency by use of light, CO, water and nutrients, has not been of much help as the details of how to manage them and bring them to some practical optimums, is yet unknown. The major difficulty in relating any physiological parameter directly to the crop yield is the complexity of the interactions among the processes and pools of the plant. As the inputs of CO, water and light can be limiting to the yields, more economical yields can be obtained by increasing the photosynthesis, nutrient use and transpiration efficiency. So despite the fact that each of these processes possess the potential for improvement of yield, the interrelationships between them show great difficulty in identifying an ideal ideotype that can result in yield increases under all the circumstances. The article attempts to elucidate upon the ways of improving the productivity of sugarcane under the Indian subtropics by utilizing knowledge on interactions of various plant processes involving indirect increased utilization of light through increased proportion of light absorbed and increase of efficiency in CO reduction by absorbed quanta that turn the plant more efficient with assimilate transport from leaf, phloem translocation and parenchymatous import of sucrose for removal of feedback inhibition to allow maintenance of high photosynthetic efficiency, increasing light absorption by increasing the leaf size, number of leaves per stalk and number of stalks per unit area, increasing the CO uptake through increase in stomatal conductance and decrease in boundary layer resistance to CO by decreasing leaf width, increasing the efficiency of partitioning of photosynthates and reducing the yields losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted during 2007-2010 at Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow to assess the magnitude of changes in soil physical, chemical and biological properties and crop yield with integration of FYM (organic) and inorganic fertilizer in sugarcane (plant-ratoon) system. Eight treatments of various inorganic and organic proportions were applied at the time of sugarcane planting and ratoon initiation in subsequent years. Application of 100 % N through organic showed lowest bulk density (1.30 Mg m) and highest infiltration rate (4.8 mm h). Soil organic carbon, nitrogen use efficiency and soil respiration rate improved with increasing proportion of organic with inorganic fertilizer. The higher soil microbial biomass carbon was analyzed at grand growth phase (August) of sugarcane crop as compared to tillering and maturity. Soil microbial biomass nitrogen increased with advancement in crop growth stages and the highest values were observed at maturity stage. Sugarcane yield increased with integration of organic and inorganic fertilizer and it showed long term sustainability in sugarcane based system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted during 2007-2009 at Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow to assess the effect of iron, manganese and sulphur nutrition on growth, yield, quality, nutrient uptake and soil health in sugarcane based system. Eight treatments comprising combinations of iron, manganese and sulphur in different propositions were applied in sugarcane plant as well as ratoon crop subsequently. Among the various treatments, the highest sugar yield (9.25 ton/ha) was obtained with three foliar sprays of 1 % MnSO in sugarcane plant crop. However, sugarcane ratoon crop showed the highest sugar yield (10.73 ton/ha) with three foliar sprays of 1 % FeSO during tillering phase. Mean iron removal from sugarcane ratoon crop was higher (7.69 kg/ha) than plant crop (4.75 kg/ha). Sugarcane plant crop removed 1.25 kg/ha Mn as compared to 2.596 kg/ha removal by ratoon crop. However, the highest removal (3.67 kg/ha) of Mn from ratoon cane was observed under foliar application of 1 % MnSO. It was observed that application of Fe, Mn or S increased the soil fertility status after completion of plant-ratoon crop cycle as compared to control (NPK alone). Thus, it was concluded that, sugarcane and sugar yield could be increased with three foliar applications of 1 % FeSO/1 % MnSO during peak tillering phase (May) or through 60 kg S/ha (basal application). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]