SOIL NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN SUGARCANE BASED ON SOIL TEST

1. SOIL NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN SUGARCANE BASED ON SOIL TEST Dr. R. R. Verma Scientist, Soil Science Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, 226 002 1

2. Introduction • Sugarcane is the major source for sugar production in India. • Its cultivation with efficient management of inputs and resources proves to be a vehicle of rural prosperity and ensures livelihood for millions • Its an agro-industrial cash cropwidely cultivated under both tropical and sub-tropical states of India including Uttar Pradesh, Punajab, Haryana, Bihar and Uttarakhand • The crop remains in the field for 12-18 months and on an average removes about 205 kg N, 55 kg P2O5, 275 kg K2O, 30 kg S, 3.5 kg Fe. 1.2 kg Mn, 0.6 kg Zn and 0.2 kg Cu from the soil for a cane yield of 100 t ha-1. • The Sub-tropical states registered lower cane yields (50-70 t/ha) as compared to tropical states (90-100 t/ha). • Soil health and nutrient management along with climatic factors play major roles in determination of sugarcane yield.

3. Area, Production and Productivity Contribution of States Production Area Productivity

4. Required Growth to achieve domestic demand by 2020

5. Continue… • The sugarcane crop productivity enhancement is a major challenge in the current scenario for increasing the farmer’s income. • The crop of sugarcane pass through four growth stages, that is, germination, tillering, grand growth and maturity. • The germination takes about 45 days and followed by tillering stage (process of side shoots emerging) • Tillering is a major yield determining process as optimal yield depends on establishment of a sufficient tiller density. • The tillering stage over around 120 days after planting • The use of plant growth regulators can play an important role in enhancement of sugarcane productivity by accelerating the initial early germination and optimizing the tiller population in per unit area

6. What is soil ? A dynamic natural body in which plants grow, composed of mineral and organic materials, air, water, and living organisms

7. It indicates the soil fertility and productivity in a composite way and includes the physical, physico-chemical, microbial and physiographic properties of soil. The indicators are:Bulk density, aggregate stability, infiltration rateSoil pH, CEC, ECMicrobial biomass nitrogen and carbon, organic carbonAvailability of essential nutrients What is Soil Health?

8. PLANT NUTRIENTS Essential Nutrients for plant growth (Arnon and Stout 1939 ) • A deficiency of the elements makes its impossible for the plant to complete vegetative or reproductive growth stages of its lifecycle, • The deficiency is specific to the element in question and as such can be prevented or corrected only by supplying that particular nutrient element to the plant, and • The nutrient must take part in metabolism as a metabolite or it must be required for action of an essential enzyme system.

9. Classification of Essential Plant Nutrient Major, primary or macro-nutrients -Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and potassium The deficiency is corrected by application of fertilizers based on soil analysis and crop requirement. This group also includes C, H, O Secondary Nutrients - Ca, Mg and S. they are required right from the beginning of the plant growth but in relatively lesser quantities. Micro-nutrients - Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, B, Mo and CI. Required in very minute quantities and they mostly act to stimulate, activate or accelerate the enzyme activities in metabolic process of plants. Normally the requirement met with the soil except few likes Zn and S which need to be supplied separately.

11. NUTRIENT RATINGS FOR SOIL TEST RESULT INTERPRETATION

12. Fertilizers recommendation Based on STCR

14. Effect of treatments on yield attributes, cane yield and juice quality of sugarcane

15. Strategies to improve sugarcane productivity Soil health • Integrated nutrient management through companion cropping, bio-manures, residue recycling • Enhanced carbon sequestration in soil • Assessment of organic carbon and micro-nutrients in sugarcane soils • Site specific precision nutrient management

16. Projected plant nutrients (NPK) removal and addition in India (mt)

17. Nutrients Removal from soil by one tonne of cane yield • Nitrogen 2.05 kg • Phosphorus 0.51 kg • Potash 2.8 kg • Sulphur 0.3 kg • Fe 0.03 kg • Mn 0.012 kg • Zn 0.006 kg • Cu 0.002 kg

18. NUTRIENT MINING FROM SUGARCANE SOILS

19. Historical change in SOC as a result of agricultural development, showing soil carbon sequestration potential

20. Trends for nitrogen use efficiency

21. Estimates of the crop residue yield and realizable plant nutrient potential from the residues of principal crops in India

22. Emission factors and fuel loading factors for open burning of agricultural materials Source: US Environmental Protection Agency

23. Major role of nutrients in plant Nitrogen (N) : • Nitrogen is a part of all living cells and is a necessary part of all proteins, enzymes and metabolic processes involved in the synthesis and transfer of energy. • Nitrogen is a part of chlorophyll, the green pigment of the plant that is responsible for photosynthesis.  • Helps plants with rapid growth, increasing seed and fruit production and improving the quality of leaf and forage crops.  Phosphorus (P) • Like nitrogen, phosphorus (P) is an essential part of the process of photosynthesis.  • Involved in the formation of all oils, sugars, starches, etc. • Helps with the transformation of solar energy into chemical energy; proper plant maturation; withstanding stress. • Effects rapid growth. • Encourages blooming and root growth. Potassium (K) • Potassium is absorbed by plants in larger amounts than any other mineral element except nitrogen and, in some cases, calcium.  • Helps in the building of protein, photosynthesis, fruit quality and reduction of diseases.

24. Calcium (Ca) • Calcium, an essential part of plant cell wall structure, provides for normal transport and retention of other elements as well as strength in the plant. Magnesium (Mg) • Magnesium is part of the chlorophyll in all green plants and essential for photosynthesis. It also helps activate many plant enzymes needed for growth. Sulfur (S) • Essential plant food for production of protein. • Promotes activity and development of enzymes and vitamins. • Helps in chlorophyll formation. • Improves root growth and seed production. • Helps with vigorous plant growth and resistance to cold.

25. Micronutrients Boron (B) • Helps in the use of nutrients and regulates other nutrients.  • Aids production of sugar and carbohydrates.  • Essential for seed and fruit development.  Copper (Cu) • Important for reproductive growth. • Aids in root metabolism and helps in the utilization of proteins.  Chloride (Cl) • Aids plant metabolism.  • Chloride is found in the soil. 

26. Iron (Fe)  • Essential for formation of chlorophyll. Manganese (Mn)  • Functions with enzyme systems involved in breakdown of carbohydrates, and nitrogen metabolism.  Molybdenum (Mo) • Helps in the use of nitrogen Zinc (Zn) • Essential for the transformation of carbohydrates. • Regulates consumption of sugars. • Part of the enzyme systems which regulate plant growth. 

27. Soil and crop nutrition management in sugarcane • Sugarcane like other plants needs all 17 essential elements required for growth and development • While C, H and oxygen is made available from soil and atmosphere other 13 elements need to be given from outside • Primary elements N,P and K play major role in crop growth and profitable yield hence are required in large quantities • Secondary elements Ca, Mg and S are equally essential but made available only deficiency appears • Among micro-nutrients Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, B, Mo and Cl only first three have been found crucial in certain situations

28. Nitrogen management in sugarcane • Sugarcane loves both nitrate as well as ammonical forms of the nutrients, however initially ammonical form is preferred a little • Highest uptake of nutrient is reported during formative phase (tilllering) from soil • During elongation phase role of endophytes have not been ruled out • Higher nitrogen availability at ripening hampers with sugar accumulation • It is better to stop nitrogen application by the end of June in sub-tropics; for tropical region it may be carried little longer • Integrated supply involving various sources have been found more remunerative

29. Nutrition aspects of ratoon crop • Requires more of nitrogen due to various reasons • Phosphorus management be done carefully in ratoon • Potassium availability is crucial for good ratoon yield • Zinc and sulfur have started showing response in ratoon • Micro-nutrients play major role as root system is not that efficient

30. SUGARCANE GROWING SOILS FERTILITY STATUS OF SUB-TROPICAL STATES

32. Implementation of Soil Health card Scheme at IISR, Lucknow

33. Advancement in soil analysis, and recommendation of nutrients • USE of GPS • GIS Software • SOIL Nutrient Management on the basis of STCR Approach • Soil Nutrient management Unit can be a sugar mill command area • Use of advanced Information technology in implementation of Soil Heal Card Scheme

34. Apply only those nutrients which are actually needed by the crop. • Fertilizer application should always be based on soil test. • Deficiency states may sometimes be corrected, not just by applying the missing nutrient, but by changing soil conditions to enhance availability.

35. Thank You