Use of granulated organo-chemical fertilizer as starter for sugarcane planted in a loamy-sandy soil

Abstract

A field study on the use of granulated organo-chemical fertilizer on sugarcane growth and yield was conducted at Ban Kud Jik (on farmer field) in Kumphawapi sub-district, Kumphawapi district, Udonthani
province during November 2008 to December 2009. Sugarcane planting with spacing of 1.5 x 0.5 m was employed in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 4 replications. Five treatments consisted of no-starter fertilizer (control), application of chemical fertilizer (CF) and 3 types of granulated organo-chemical fertilizers (OCF1, OCF2 and OCF3). Results showed the application of OCF1, OCF2, and OCF3 could not produce higher growth, yield and CCS of sugarcane when compare to application of CF and control (P < 0.0.5). However, the effect of OCFs on
sugarcane would comparatively to chemical fertilizer use of most farmers in Kumphawapi region that this practice still high cost in sugarcane production. On the other hand, OCFs did not differ from control could be the soil improved by legume crop before sugarcane planting.