Iron, Manganese and Sulphur Uptake and Nutrients Availability in ...

Sugar Tech (July-Sept 2014) 16(3):300–310 DOI 10.1007/s12355-013-0269-y

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Iron, Manganese and Sulphur Uptake and Nutrients Availability in Sugarcane Based System in Subtropical India A. K. Mishra • S. K. Shukla • D. V. Yadav S. K. Awasthi

•

Received: 15 June 2013 / Accepted: 11 September 2013 / Published online: 20 November 2013 Ó Society for Sugar Research & Promotion 2013

Abstract 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 % MnSO4 in sugarcane plant crop. However, sugarcane ratoon crop showed the highest sugar yield (10.73 ton/ha) with three foliar sprays of 1 % FeSO4 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 % MnSO4. 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 % FeSO4/1 % MnSO4 during peak tillering phase (May) or through 60 kg S/ha (basal application). Keywords Sugarcane

Iron Manganese Sulphur Nutrient uptake

A. K. Mishra S. K. Shukla (&) D. V. Yadav S. K. Awasthi Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, P. O. Dilkusha, Lucknow 226002, Uttar Pradesh, India e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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Introduction The burgeoning population in India necessitates significant increase in the production of agricultural products including sugar. With the increase in crop productivity, nutrient removal from soil has also increased. This continuous mining of soil nutrients has to be replenished to sustain crop yield for longer period. Decline in total as well as partial factor productivity of inputs in the highly productive regions of rice–wheat system suggests that basic resources are getting fatigued. Sugarcane alone covers 5.086 million hectare area in India with a production of 357.66 million tonnes (ISMA 2012). Sugarcane being a long duration and huge biomass accumulating crop removes substantial amount of plant nutrients from the soil. There exists a huge regional disparity in fertilizer use and the consumption of plant nutrients. All these point out to greater opportunity for using more balanced fertilizers involving primary, secondary and micronutrients for enhancing cane productivity, juice quality and maintaining system sustainability of production system. Sugarcane being a long duration and huge biomass accumulating crop removes substantial amount of plant nutrients from the soil. As reported from IISR, Lucknow, a crop of 100 t/ha exhausts 208 kg N, 53 kg P and 280 kg K besides 3.4 kg Fe, 1.2 kg Mn, 0.6 kg Zn and 0.2 kg Cu (Yadav and Dey 1997). Besides, crop removes in large quantity of sulphur also (Shukla and Lal 2004). Sulphur has become critical in low organic matter coarse textured soils under S exhausting oilseed based cropping systems. Application of S is beneficial in sustaining sugarcane productivity to a considerable extent under moisture stress conditions also. Iron is one of the micro-nutrients essential for plant growth. It plays a direct role in the primary process of photosynthesis. Mn deficiency is known to result in

Sugar Tech (July-Sept 2014) 16(3):300–310

decreased levels of photosynthesis but the effect of Mn on photosynthesis is largely independent of its effects on the chlorophyll. Foliar application of micro-nutrients has been found effective in increasing the cane yield in Uttar Pradesh (Yadav et al. 1987) and Punjab (Sharma and Kanwar 1985). Thus, the present study was undertaken to assess the effect of micronutrients particularly iron and manganese, and sulphur on sugarcane growth, nutrient uptake, and yield and soil health in plant–ratoon system.

Materials and Methods A field experiment was conducted during 2007–2009 at Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow located at 26°560 N, 80°520 E and 111 m above sea level with semi arid sub-tropical climate having dry hot summer and cold winter. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam (22.5 % clay, 58.6 % silt and 18.90 % sand) of IndoGangetic alluvial origin, pH 7.76, EC 0.25 ds/m, very deep ([2 m) well drained, flat and classified as non calcareous mixed hyperthermic udic ustochrept. Before planting of the crop, soil samples from 0 to 15 cm depth were collected by core sampler of 8-cm diameter from five spots in the field. The observations on soil pH, EC, organic carbon and available NPK, S, Fe and Mn contents were recorded before sugarcane planting/ ratoon initiation and at harvest of plant and ratoon crop. Available N was estimated by alkaline potassium permanganate method (Subbiah and Asija 1956). Available P was extracted with Olsen’s reagent i.e. 0.5 M sodium hydrogen carbonate buffer solution (pH 8.5). P was colorimetrically measured with the help of Spectrophotometer at 660 nm wavelength (Watanabe and Olsen 1965). It was extracted by 1 N ammonium acetate buffer, pH 7.0. The potassium was determined by flame emission photometry using Flame photometer (Schollenberger and Simon 1945). Available S was estimated by turbidimetric method and reading was taken at 440 nm wavelength on spectrophotometer (Chesnin and Yien 1951). Available Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were extracted by DTPA extractant (mixture of 13.1 ml TEA, 1.967 g DTPA and 1.47 g CaCl2 in one litre dilution), pH 7.3 and determined by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Lindsay and Norvell 1978). The initial organic carbon, available N, P and K of the experimental soil were determined as 0.52 %, 275.9, 42.86, 229.68 kg/ha, respectively. Available Fe, Mn and S content in soil at the time of experimentation was determined as 38.4 and 8.80 mg/kg soil and 21.65 kg/ha. In the experiment, eight treatments were applied in sugarcane plant (main crop) as well as subsequent ratoon crop. These treatments were viz., T1: control (150, 25 and 50 kg/ha NPK, respectively for sugarcane plant crop and

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187.5 kg N/ha only in ratoon crop—as recommended); T2: control with 2.5 % urea foliar spray (three times in the month of May); T3: control with 1 % FeSO4 foliar application (three times in the month of May); T4: control with 1 % (NH4)2SO4 (three times in the month of May); T5: control with 1 % MnSO4 foliar application (three times in the month of May); T6: control with 1 % MnSO4 foliar spray equivalent to sulphur added through 1 % MnSO4 (three times in the month of may); T7: control with 1 % NH4SO4 foliar application (three times in the month of May) and T8: control with 60 kg S/ha through NH4SO4 (basal). These treatments were applied in sugarcane plant crop as well as ratoon crop. These eight treatments were replicated thrice in randomized block design. Minimum plot size was kept to 8 9 4.5 m2. Five plants having intact leaves (both dry and green) were selected randomly from sample row (second row) of each plot. The oven dried samples were ground in a stainless steel Wiley Mill. Ground plant sample of 1 g each was taken and wet-digested in concentrated H2SO4 for determination of total N. The N content was determined by Kjeldahl method using Kjeltec Auto-analyzer (Blakemore and Daly 1972). P was estimated by ammonium molybdovanadate yellow colour method and determined by spectrophotometer (Jackson 1973). K was determined in diacid digested extract by Flame photometer (Jackson 1973). Diacid digested extract was used in determination of S by barium sulphate turbidimetry method and was estimated by Spectrophotometer at 420 nm wavelength (Blancher et al. 1965). Fe and Mn were determined in diacid digested filtered extract and were estimated by a double beam Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The crop was planted using 38,000 three-bud cane setts/ ha on 15 March 2007 at 75 cm row spacing. Before placing setts in the furrows, half the dose of required nitrogen and full doses of P and K (25 kg P and 50 kg K/ha, respectively) applied in furrows beneath the cane setts using urea (46.4 % N), DAP (46 % P2O5) and potassium chloride (49.8 % K). An insecticide, chlorpyriphos (20 % EC) was sprayed over cane setts before covering them to protect against termite and early shoot borer. The sugarcane (plant) and ratoon crops received three pre-monsoon irrigations during April–June in tillering phase. Remaining dose of nitrogen through urea was top-dressed uniformly in the month of May in plant crop and April in ratoon crop. Sulphur fertilizer was applied as basal whereas other micronutrients viz., Fe and Mn were applied through foliar application (three times in the month of May) with 2.5 % urea solution uniformly. The sugarcane plant crop was harvested on 16 March 2008 and observations recorded. Soon after harvest of plant crop, dry cane leaves mulched and field was irrigated to facilitate stubble sprouting in ratoon crop. Half amount of

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inorganic source of nitrogen was applied in inter row spaces at the time of ratoon initiation. Remaining half N was applied in second week of April along the rows. Ratoon crop was harvested on 20 January 2009 leaving border rows and net plot yield recorded and presented in tones/ha. At harvest, five plants were randomly selected from each plot for estimation of growth attributes and juice quality parameters. Sucrose (%) in juice was determined by as per the method described by Meady and Chen (1997). Sugar yield was calculated after multiplying CCS (%) and ratoon yield. Juice purity ð%Þ ¼ Sucrose percent in juice=corrected brix 100 CCS ð%Þ ¼ fS ðB SÞ 0:4g 0:73 where S is the sucrose percent in juice and B is the corrected brix The data of each crop season were statistically analyzed separately. Critical difference (CD) was computed to determine statistically significant treatment differences pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi C: D: ¼ 2 VE r1 t5% where VE is the error variance, r is number of replications, t5% is the table value of t at 5 % level of significance at error degree of freedom. MSTAT software (Freed et al. 1991) was used for statistical analyses. Results and Discussion Nutrient Uptake Through Sugarcane Plant and Ratoon Crops Nutrients removal from sugarcane plant and ratoon crops has been presented in Tables 1, 2 and 3. Partitioning of nutrient has been done in leaf and stem. It is clear from Table 1 that mean nitrogen removal (384.13 kg/ha) from ratoon crop was higher than plant crop (200.55 kg/ha). At the time of harvesting, the contribution of leaf N was 33.1 % (66.4 kg/ha) as compared to stem N (66.9 % or 134.15 kg/ha) in sugarcane plant crop. However, in ratoon crop, the contribution of leaf N was higher (33.57 % or 128.96 kg/ha) as compared to stem N (66.43 % or 255.18 kg/ha). This indicated higher N removal from stem as compared to leaf. Different micronutrients significantly affected the rate and total quantity of N uptake. Application of 60 kg S/ha removed the highest quantity of nitrogen (234.29 kg/ha) in sugarcane plant crop. However, in ratoon crop, foliar spray of iron showed the highest N removal (471.24 kg ha). It was followed by Mn application (425.86 kg/ha). Partitioning of nitrogen in leaf and stem

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indicated that higher nitrogen was accumulated in stem (309.97 kg/ha) as compared to leaf (161.27 kg/ha) in the plots where iron was sprayed. Thus iron application increased diversion of photosynthates from leaf to stem. Its role in cytochromes, involvement in non-heme iron proteins during photosynthesis might be responsible reasons for better translocation (IISR 2000). However, in sugarcane (plant) crop, these values were 150.09 and 74.62 kg/ha, respectively. The higher accumulation of nitrogen in ratoon as compared to plant crop was mainly due to higher tiller population and biomass produced. However, greater effect of iron in ratoon as compared to the plant crop was due to poor availability of ion in ratoon crop than plant crop. Phosphorus uptake (Table 1) was also partitioned in leaf and stem in sugarcane plant and ratoon crop. In both the crops, P removal was the highest with foliar spray of 1 % FeSO4 solution. Sulphur present in the compound increases the physiological activity of iron. Besides, application of iron and sulphur decreased pH of cell sap and ultimately increased the efficiency of iron (Hunsigi 1993; Ghosh et al. 1990). It was followed by Mn and S application. It was clear from Table 1 that effect of iron and sulphur present in the compound caused greater effect as compared to sole S application. There was not significant difference in P removal from plant (69.13 kg/ha) and ratoon crop (71 kg/ ha). P mainly acts in the meristematic region (Hartt 1959). New crop, although produced lower biomass showed about similar quantity of P as compared to ratoon crop which almost produced doubled biomass. The mean accumulation of P in stem was 45.66 kg/ha as compared to leaf (23.47 kg/ha) in plant crop. However, in ratoon crop, these values were in higher range (122.28 and 48.72 kg/ha in stem and leaf, respectively). Thus in sugarcane plant crop, ratio of P accumulation between leaf and stem was 1:1.94 as compared to 1:2.51 in ratoon crop. Higher removal from ratoon crop was due to higher amount of biomass produced. Mean removal of K (Table 2) by ratoon crop was very close to nitrogen removal in sugarcane. In sugarcane plant crop, control plots removed 100.09 kg K/ha. The contribution of leaf and stem was 39.76 and 60.33 kg ha, respectively. Iron application in sugarcane plant crop increased K uptake in great extent (200.16 kg/ha) with increase in ratio of diversion from leaf to stem (leaf 72.11 kg/ha and stem 128.05 kg/ha). Sulphur application in sugarcane plant crop ranked second. However, in ratoon crop, Mn spray showed its superiority over basal application of sulphur. Ratoon crop with iron spray removed 500.7 kg/ha K. The leaf and stem contribution was 197.56 and 303.22 kg/ha, respectively. It was mainly due to higher biomass produced which affected higher K removal also. The diversion of photosynthates from leaf to stem was affected by iron and Mn application. Thus contribution of


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Table 1 Partitioning of N and P uptake in leaf and stem (kg/ha) at harvest in sugarcane plant and ratoon crop Treatments

T1: control

a

N uptake (kg/ha)

P uptake (kg/ha)

Sugarcane plant crop

Ratoon crop

Leaf

Leaf

Stalk

Stalk

Total

Sugarcane plant crop

Ratoon crop

Total

Leaf

Stalk

Total

Leaf

Stalk

Total

62.03

97.14

159.17

103.9

155.2

259.1

17.04

32.99

50.03

33.23

81.54

114.77

T2: control with 2.5 % urea foliar sprayb

64.42

110.09

174.51

117.09

233.7

350.79

18.23

38.57

56.8

41.95

92.45

134.4

T3: control with 1 % FeSO4 foliar application

74.62

150.09

224.71

161.27

309.97

471.24

29.41

46.43

75.84

56.77

173.11

229.88

T4: control with 1 % (NH4)2SO4 foliar spray equivalent to S added through 1 % FeSO4

64.44

135.95

200.39

121.01

277.79

398.8

23.05

43.16

66.21

50.71

126.8

177.51

T5: control with 1 % MnSO4 foliar application

65.83

150.33

216.16

145.63

280.23

425.86

24.84

58.78

83.62

56.49

164.03

220.52

T6: control with 1 % (NH4)2SO4 foliar spray equivalent to S added through 1 % MnSO4

55.58

126.13

181.71

120.96

247.53

368.49

23.14

47.24

70.38

50.03

97.94

147.97

T7: control with 1 % (NH4)2SO4 foliar application

65.29

148.18

213.47

124.81

288.89

413.7

24.11

44.38

68.49

44.38

124.12

168.5

T8: control with 60 kg S/ha as (NH4)2SO4

78.97

155.32

234.29

136.99

248.09

385.08

27.97

53.7

81.67

56.18

118.24

174.42

SEM±

1.56

2.22

2.93

2.13

2.84

5.52

1.20

1.42

2.22

1.43

2.84

4.85

C.D. (P = 0.05)

4.65

6.23

8.65

6.23

8.56

16.52

3.56

4.20

6.23

4.23

8.24

14.28

a

T1: control (150 kg N, 25 kg P and 50 kg K/ha—as recommended in sugarcane plant crop and 187.5 kg N/ha in ratoon crop)

b

Three foliar sprays mixed with 2.5 % urea at weekly interval during May. In all sprays, N was kept uniform

Table 2 Partitioning of K and S uptake in leaf and stem (kg/ha) at harvest in sugarcane plant and ratoon crop Treatments

K uptake (kg/ha)

S uptake (kg/ha)

Plant crop Leaf

Ratoon crop

Stalk

Total

Leaf

Stalk

Plant crop Total

Leaf

Stalk

Ratoon crop Total

Leaf

Stalk

Total

T1: controla

39.76

60.33

100.09

84.72

174.41

259.13

24.19

43.75

67.94

44.29

71.04

115.33


60.22

60.42

120.64

99.43

206.8

306.23

26.95

47.13

74.08

69.48

99.07

168.55


72.11

128.05

200.16

197.56

303.22

500.78

39.98

62.62


61.4

63.06

124.46

145.58

208.54

354.12

31.47

51.72

83.19


71.82


60.35

104.2 60.54

102.6

99.44

150.9

250.34

69.55

117.73

187.28

176.02

146.29

313.47

459.76

37.33

80.09

117.42

82.86

137.04

219.9

120.89

101.61

289.88

391.49

32.27

54.22

86.49

70.71

100.32

171.03


89.57

93.32

182.89

142.52

243.09

385.61

35.1

56.64

91.74

70.65

126.63

197.28


89.57

93.32

182.89

122.79

240.67

363.46

62.6

73.45

136.05

87.16

136.48

223.64

SEM±

2.67

2.45

4.56

2.67

6.57

7.20

1.56

2.15

2.86

1.78

3.35

4.52

C.D. (P = 0.05)

7.79

7.59

13.26

7.80

18.76

20.87

4.65

6.20

8.56

5.20

9.80

13.86

a


b


stem increased to the leaf. However, the lowest potassium uptake was obtained in control plots because of lower biomass produced. Sugarcane plant crop removed 43.75–80.09 kg S/ha (Table 2). The higher values in ratoon crop were obtained due to increased biomass production. Application of S in plant crop showed the highest uptake (136.05 kg/ha) of sulphur. It was followed by Mn and Fe application. However, in ratoon crop, iron application showed its superiority over sulphur application. Partitioning of sulphur was also affected and higher amount of sulphur was diverted into stem as compared to leaf under application of micronutrients or sulphur. Greater effect of sulphur in plant cane was due to the well oxidized conditions during planting, which

favoured availability of sulphur and higher uptake of N due to increased nitrate reductase activity (Hunsigi 1993). Several workers also showed positive effect of N 9 S on nitrogen uptake (Hunsigi 1993; Shukla and Lal 2002). Thus in the present study, higher response of sulphur application was obtained in the plant crop as compared to ratoon crop. In sugarcane plant crop, stem accumulated 43.75 kg S/ ha. However, with S and Fe application, the uptake was increased by 29.7 and 18.87 kg/ha, respectively. A decline in N:S ratio of tissues to below 17:1 affects the dry matter production (Stanford and Jordan 1966). The higher removal was mainly obtained due to increased biomass production and protein compound formed. Poor aeration in ratoon crop and pH range of 7.78 might increased greater

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Table 3 Partitioning of Fe and Mn uptake in leaf and stem (kg/ha) at harvest in sugarcane plant and ratoon crop Treatments

Fe uptake (kg/ha) Plant crop

T1: control

a

Mn uptake (kg/ha) Ratoon crop

Leaf

Stalk

Total

Leaf

Stalk

Plant crop Total

Ratoon crop

Leaf

Stalk

Total

Leaf

Stalk

Total

1.31

1.09

2.4

2.93

2.58

5.51

0.4

0.44

0.84

0.71

1.03

1.74


1.72

1.29

3.01

3.28

2.67

5.95

0.46

0.49

0.95

0.71

1.08

1.79


3.21

1.68

4.89

5.29

4.14

9.43

1.13

0.67

1.8

1.32

1.61

2.93


3.15

1.3

4.45

3.95

2.82

6.77

0.54

0.56

1.1

1.25

1.44

2.69


3.21

3.51

6.72

4.93

3.56

8.49

0.69

0.86

1.55

2.13

1.54

3.67


3.02

1.44

4.46

3.43

2.67

6.1

0.51

0.54

1.05

1.43

1.19

2.62


2.76

2.56

5.32

3.73

3.3

7.03

0.68

0.66

1.34

1.36

1.41

2.77


3.84

2.88

6.72

5.05

7.22

12.27

0.7

0.65

1.35

1.38

1.18

2.56

SEM±

0.12

0.12

0.14

0.13

0.14

0.22

0.021

0.018

0.07

0.042

0.024

0.085

C.D. (P = 0.05)

0.35

0.36

0.42

0.38

0.42

0.65

0.063

0.052

0.21

0.11

0.072

0.26

a


b


response of iron ratoon than plant crop (Barnes 1974; Hunsigi 1993). Sulphur application increases availability of iron to crop by reducing pH of cell sap. Fe does not remain in a physiological available form in the tissues (Saroha and Singh 1980). Sulphur is associated with chlorophyll formation and a deficiency affects carbohydrate metabolism (Dutt 1962). Sulphur is directly connected with N utilization since it can improve N use efficiency possibly by increasing nitrate reductase activity (Ghosh et al. 1990). This might be the cause behind highest uptake from sugarcane plant crop with application of sulphur (Shukla and Lal 2004). Iron uptake in sugarcane plant (6.72) kg/ha and ratoon crop (12.27 kg/ha) was the highest with S application (Table 3). In ratoon crop, iron application showed removal of 9.43 kg Fe/ha. In plant crop, sulphur and Mn application removed almost similar quantity of iron and was at par. Contribution of iron in leaf and stem indicated higher Fe accumulation in stem than leaf. In sugarcane plant crop, Mn application showed higher iron accumulation in stem whereas in all other treatments, its removal through stem was lower than leaf component. The results are in conformity with the findings obtained by several research workers that higher Fe/Mn ratio caused Mn deficiency and its application also removed higher iron and thus crop required higher amount of iron also (Hunsigi 1993). Sugarcane ratoon showed 61.9 % higher removal of iron than plant crop (4.75 kg/ha). Sulphur application in ratoon crop brought forth significant change in accumulation and diversion of iron from leaf to stem. However, stem (7.22 kg/ha) showed higher accumulation of iron than leaf (5.05 kg/ha). Thus it was observed that S played greater

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role in iron accumulation in sugarcane plant crop whereas; in the ratoon Mn had much influence on iron accumulation. Fe and Mn ratio has been found important for better availability of nutrients. The Mn uptake in plant crop was the highest with iron application (Table 3). It was followed by Mn application. However, in ratoon crop foliar spray of 1 % MnSO4 accumulated the highest Mn (3.67 kg/ha). The mean removal of Mn from leaf and stem was 0.64 and 0.61 kg/ha, respectively in sugarcane plant crop. Iron application in ratoon increased the total Mn removal. In comparison of ratoon and plant crop, slightly higher manganese was accumulated in stem (1.3 kg/ha) than leaf (1.29 kg/ha) in ratoon. Whereas in sugarcane plant crop, contribution of Mn in stem (0.61 kg/ha) was lower than leaf (0.64 kg/ha). Thus it was proved that, these nutrients had greater role in ratoon crop than plant crop. Well prepared field and optimum oxidized condition, good tilth provided by better physical, chemical and microbiological conditions which created congenial rhizospheric environment in plant crop as compared to ratoon crop affects mobility and availability of nutrients to crop plants (Shukla et al. 2008; Yadav et al. 2009). Organic Carbon and Nutrient Contents of Soil After Harvest of Plant and Ratoon Crops After completion of plant–ratoon cycle, the soil organic carbon and contents of other nutrients determined and presented through Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Soil fertility status at 0–15 cm depth was higher as compared to the 15–30 cm depth. Initial organic carbon content was 0.52 % (0–15 cm soil depth) and was maintained at 0.48 % after


harvesting of ratoon crop. In micronutrients treated plots, mean organic carbon content was analyzed to the tune of 0.53 % (Fig. 1) in 0–15 cm depth and 0.33 % in 15–30 cm depth. Thus it proved that even after obtaining higher yield of plant and ratoon crops, soil organic carbon could not be influenced adversely. Thus it was proved that higher production of biomass through micronutrients and S application also led higher residue incorporation and higher removal of nutrients from soil could not adversely affect soil organic carbon content. These findings are in conformity with the results obtained at IISR Lucknow (Shukla et al. 2013a, b). Available N content in soil (Fig. 2) indicated that at 0–15 cm depth initial available nitrogen content analyzed was 275.97 kg/ha which in soil increased after application of micronutrients. In control plots, mean available nitrogen in soil decreased to 232.07 kg/ha (0–15 cm) and 201.75 kg/ha (15–30 cm). However, all the treatments showed superiority because of higher removal of nutrients in the soil through biomass produced. Further after harvesting of ratoon crop, control plots again showed decline in available N (226.84 kg/ha in 0–15 cm depth and 200.7 kg/ha in 15–30 cm depth). Application of iron, sulphur and manganese showed superiority over control. This was because of higher amount of biomass produced due to higher tiller population and millable canes. Crop residues such as stubble and mulched trash after harvesting of plant crop, after decomposition modulated rhizospheric environment and created congenial condition for better nutrient availability (Yadav et al. 2009). Available phosphorus in soil (Fig. 3) was influenced by various micronutrients and S application in significant manner. The initial level of available P2O5 content in 0–15 and 15–30 cm depth was 42.86 and 23.06 kg/ha. After harvesting of plant crop, control plot showed decline in available P only in 0–15 cm depth. However, available P in lower layer (15–30 cm depth) was not affected significantly. After harvesting of ratoon, available P in soil was in the tune of 26.56 kg/ha and it decreased at faster rate in 15–30 cm depth. It might be due to fixation of P in reduced

305

zone (15–30 cm depth in soil) which reduced the availability of P in ratoon crop particularly under subsurface conditions (15–30 cm). However, sugarcane plant crop provided well oxidized condition due to pre planting deep tillage which increased available P content in soil as well. Upper layer (0–15 cm) due to well oxidized conditions had greater mineralization of nutrients owing to higher population of bacteria (Shukla et al. 2008) showed higher status of most of the nutrients. Application of iron, manganese and sulphur maintained the P level in both the soil layers. Mean available P content was 36.94 kg/ha (0–15 cm depth) and 27.41 kg/ha (15–30 cm depth) which was significantly higher than control plots. Available potassium in soil (Fig. 4) increased after harvesting of plant crop. Mean available K, after harvesting of plant crop was observed to 257.54 and 243.13 kg/ha (0–15 and 15–30 cm depth, respectively). However, after harvesting of first ratoon crop, it declined slowly. Application of sulphur showed highest available potassium in soil after completion of complete crop cycle (plant-ratoon system) and the mean potassium content was analyzed as 238.17 kg/ha as compared to 231 kg/ha before start of experiment. After harvesting of plant crop, trash mulching was done and soil received sufficient K (Yadav et al. 1994; 2009). So, available K content increased in 0–15 cm soil depth. After harvesting of ratoon crop also, available K content did not decrease much and it was maintained at higher level as compared to initial value in 0–15 cm soil depth. Available S content in 0–15 cm (Fig. 5) was significantly higher than 15–30 cm layer. Initial available S content determined was in tune of 21.65 and 12.17 kg/ha. It is clear from Fig. 5 that it decreased in plant crop and further dropped in ratoon crop under control. Sulphur application increased its status in soil and at harvest, soil maintained almost similar status as before commence of the experiment. Available iron content in soil (Fig. 6) showed reduction in control plot. The application of micronutrients containing fertilizers maintained iron content at harvest almost similar to initial content. Iron, Mn

Fig. 1 Effect of various treatments on soil organic carbon content (%). I15 initial soil sample (0–15 cm depth), I30 initial soil sample (15–30 cm depth), PC15 after harvesting of plant crop (0–15 cm depth), PC30 after harvesting of plant crop (15–30 cm depth), RC15 after harvesting of ratoon crop (0–15 cm depth), RC30 after harvesting of ratoon crop (15–30 cm depth)

123

306 Fig. 2 Effect of various treatments on available N content (kg/ha) in soil. I15 initial soil sample (0–15 cm depth), I30 initial soil sample (15–30 cm depth), PC15 after harvesting of plant crop (0–15 cm depth), PC30 after harvesting of plant crop (15–30 cm depth), RC15 after harvesting of ratoon crop (0–15 cm depth), RC30 after harvesting of ratoon crop (15–30 cm depth)

Fig. 3 Effect of various treatments on available P2O5 content (kg/ha) in soil. I15 initial soil sample (0–15 cm depth), I30 initial soil sample (15–30 cm depth), PC15 after harvesting of plant crop (0–15 cm depth), PC30 after harvesting of plant crop (15–30 cm depth), RC15 after harvesting of ratoon crop (0–15 cm depth), RC30 after harvesting of ratoon crop (15–30 cm depth)

Fig. 4 Effect of various treatments on available K2O content (kg/ha) in soil. I15 initial soil sample (0–15 cm depth), I30 initial soil sample (15–30 cm depth), PC15 after harvesting of plant crop (0–15 cm depth), PC30 after harvesting of plant crop (15–30 cm depth), RC15 after harvesting of ratoon crop (0–15 cm depth), RC30 after harvesting of ratoon crop (15–30 cm depth)

Fig. 5 Effect of various treatments on available S content (kg/ha) in soil. I15 initial soil sample (0–15 cm depth), I30 initial soil sample (15–30 cm depth), PC15 after harvesting of plant crop (0–15 cm depth), PC30 after harvesting of plant crop (15–30 cm depth), RC15 after harvesting of ratoon crop (0–15 cm depth), RC30 after harvesting of ratoon crop (15–30 cm depth)

123



307

Fig. 6 Effect of various treatments on available Fe content (ppm) in soil. I15 initial soil sample (0–15 cm depth), I30 initial soil sample (15–30 cm depth), PC15 after harvesting of plant crop (0–15 cm depth), PC30 after harvesting of plant crop (15–30 cm depth), RC15 after harvesting of ratoon crop (0–15 cm depth), RC30 after harvesting of ratoon crop (15–30 cm depth)

Fig. 7 Effect of various treatments on available Mn content (ppm) in soil. I15 initial soil sample (0–15 cm depth), I30 initial soil sample (15–30 cm depth), PC15 after harvesting of plant crop (0–15 cm depth), PC30 after harvesting of plant crop (15–30 cm depth), RC15 after harvesting of ratoon crop (0–15 cm depth), RC30 after harvesting of ratoon crop (15–30 cm depth)

and S application improved the available S content in soil. Higher availability of micronutrients such as Fe and Mn favoured sulphur availability in soil. Mn content in soil has (Fig. 7) shown higher values in 15–30 cm depth as compared to 0–15 cm soil depth. It was due to higher availability under reduced (Mn2?). Almost in all the soil samples, Mn content declined after completion of plant-ratoon cycle. However, Mn and S application increased the Mn content in soil. In subsurface soil depth (15–30 cm), transformation of manganese oxide into Mn2? form increased solubility. High microbial activity consumes oxygen when soil temperatures and supplies of organic carbon are favourable. As a result manganese oxide is transformed to soluble manganese (Schulte and Kelling 2004). Effect on Growth Attributes, Sugar Accumulation and Cane Yield Application of iron, manganese and sulphur influenced sugarcane growth, yield and sugar accumulation significantly in plant as well as ratoon crop (Tables 4, 5). Higher increase in growth attributes and cane yield was recorded in ratoon crop as compared to plant crop. It was due to better availability of nutrients in ratoon as compared to plant crop. In sugarcane plant crop, maximum shoot population ranged from 106,670 to 155,700/ha. In subsequent

ratoon crop, shoot population counted as 410,810–546,290/ ha. Higher tillering period of ratoon cane and better ratooning potential of the sugarcane variety CoSe 92423 were observed as main reasons for increase in shoot population. However, effect of micronutrients application was pronounced in both sugarcane plant and ratoon crops. Iron application showed the highest shoot population (155,700/ ha) in sugarcane plant crop. Manganese application showed higher number of tillers in ratoon crop than plant crop. The differences between iron and manganese were found nonsignificant. Sugarcane plant crop showed shoot mortality in range of 39.17–55.09 % as compared to 71.66–75.04 % in ratoon crop. The higher number of tillers was produced in ratoon crop as compared to plant crop. Tiller mortality was also high with ratoon crop as compared to plant crop. Thus higher number of millable canes was counted in ratoon because of higher survival of tillers. It is clear from Tables 4 and 5 that the highest number of millable canes (78,810 and 145,600/ha in sugarcane plant and ratoon crop, respectively) was counted under application of NPK and foliar application of 1 % FeSO4. This increase in number of millable canes in plant and ratoon crops was in tune of 24 and 26.3 %, respectively over the control. Individual cane length, diameter and weight also increased significantly with application of Fe, Mn and S application over the control. However, iron and manganese treatments were at par. It showed that both Fe

123

123 2.45

0.82

55.09

45.50

37.95

45.00

49.30 44.19

39.17

40.79

Shoot mortality (%)

4.62

1.54

72.44

70.07

67.56

76.59

78.81 74.82

65.78

63.55

Number of millable canes (000/ha)

2.46

0.89

72.79

73.26

8.62

1.86

138.9

136.74

132.0

149.03

145.63

153.63

133.19

115.3

Number of millable canes (000/ha)


26.50

C.D. (P = 0.05)

a

8.56

510.66


SEM±

511.40


72.70 75.04

546.07 529.03


73.10

540.29

T4: control with 1 % (NH4)2SO4 foliar spray equivalent to S added through 1 % FeSO4 T5: control with 1 % MnSO4 foliar application

71.66

542.22

72.34

71.94

Shoot mortality (%)


T2: control with 2.5 % urea foliar spray 481.63

410.81

T1: control (187.5 kg N/ha—recommended) a

Maximum shoot population (000/ha)

Treatments

10.12

3.42

222

243

208

239

238 216

206

193

Cane length (cm)

21.48

7.12

304

289

281

313

278

283

265

215

Cane length (cm)

Table 5 Effect of application of sulphur, iron and manganese on growth parameters and sugarcane yield of ratoon crop


7.65

a

C.D. (P = 0.05)

T8: control with 60 kg S/ha as (NH4)2SO4 2.50

128.59 117.63


SEM±

139.26 108.89


155.70 134.07

T3: control with 1 % FeSO4 foliar application T4: control with 1 % (NH4)2SO4 foliar spray equivalent to S added through 1 % FeSO4


106.67 108.15

T1: control (150 kg N, 25 kg P and 50 kg K/ha—recommended)

T2: control with 2.5 % urea foliar spraya

Maximum shoot population (000/ha)

Treatments

Table 4 Effect of application of sulphur, iron and manganese on growth parameters and sugarcane yield of plant crop

0.16

0.051

2.90

2.82

2.77

2.79

2.67

2.94

2.64

2.58

Cane diameter (cm)

0.15

0.048

2.57

2.45

2.45

2.48

2.52 2.46

2.45

2.42

Cane diameter (cm)

85.50

28.50

1187

1117

1107

1180

1073

1213

1023

837

Cane weight (g)

46.50

15.10

963

837

840

887

980 867

817

777

Cane weight (g)

1.22

0.40

15.52

16.13

15.52

15.61

15.41

15.71

15.32

15.30

Sucrose % juice

0.78

0.26

17.87

18.23

17.79

17.96

17.95 17.59

17.51

17.36

Sucrose % juice

4.82

1.62

91.9

91.84

92.3

93.8

91.1

102.1

89.3

76.44

Cane yield (ton/ha)

3.26

1.15

65.03

62.81

75.40

78.51

68.88 57.77

57.03

48.44

Cane yield (ton/ha)

1.20

0.42

9.72

10.18

9.64

10.09

9.93

10.73

8.49

8.16

Sugar yield (ton/ha)

0.80

0.26

7.44

7.45

8.04

9.25

8.81 6.78

6.57

5.54

Sugar yield (ton/ha)

308 Sugar Tech (July-Sept 2014) 16(3):300–310


and Mn were important and showed their effectiveness due to poor availability of these micronutrients in the experimental soil. Response of both the micronutrients was very much promising in ratoon crop as compared to plant crop. Poor availability of nutrients in ratoon crop due to physical compaction, superficial and suberized roots and higher ineffective root biomass (Shukla et al. 2008) might be responsible for better response in ratoon cane. The higher mean ratoon cane yield (91.09 ton/ha) was harvested as compared to plant crop (64.23 ton/ha). This was due to better ratooning ability of the variety CoSe 92423 and higher number of vigorous tillers produced by the crop which ultimately increased number of millable canes per unit area and individual cane weight as well. Almost all the treatments could not affect sucrose content in juice significantly. Sugar yield was the product of cane yield and commercial cane sugar (CCS %). Thus higher cane yield in plant and ratoon crops was the main reason behind the highest sugar yield. Among the various treatments, the highest sugar yield (9.25 ton/ha) was obtained with control and three foliar sprays of 1 % MnSO4 in sugarcane plant crop. However, sugarcane ratoon crop produced the highest sugar yield (10.73 ton/ha) with application of 1 % FeSO4. The sugar yield was ultimate product of cane yield and CCS %. The highest cane yield obtained with these treatments contributed greater role than CCS %. Iron played greater role in increasing sugarcane and sugar yield in ratoon than plant crop.

Conclusion The micronutrients deficiencies are now becoming common in sugarcane belt in subtropical India. Sugarcane also responds well to application of Fe, Mn and S application. Due to increased use of straight fertilizers and lower use of organic manures and green manures, the factor productivity of soil has been declined which could be increased with application of micronutrients along with primary nutrients (NPK). In present study, it was observed that, sugarcane and sugar yield could be increased with three foliar applications of 1 % FeSO4/1 % MnSO4 during peak tillering phase (May) or through 60 kg S/ha (basal application).

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