Effects of Organic Materials Managements on Soil Fertility, Growth and Yield of Sugarcane

Abstract

Sugarcane planted in the Northeast is mainly sandy soils with low fertility as well as use heavy machinery for soil preparation. This practice is the cause of rapid decomposition of soil organic matter and result to soil compaction. This study aimed to study the effect of various organic materials on soil fertility, growth and yield of sugarcane under rainfed condition. Khon Kaen 3 sugarcane cultivars was planted under field condition and separated to 2 phases. First phase during 0-6 months after planting included 4 treatments in RCBD with 4 replications i.e. sugarcane burning, mulching, bagasse ash and rice husk charcoal and second phase during 6 months after planting – sugarcane harvesting in split plot design including main-plot were types of organic material (sugarcane burned residue, mulching, bagasse ash and rice husk charcoal) and sub-plot were chemical fertilizer applications (unfertilizer and fertilizer application). Growth of sugarcane during 6 months after planting showed that bagasse ash application has increased largely dry weight of sugarcane leave, stem and total (1,5 220 and 1,776 kg/hill, respectively). Effect of material types founded that sugarcane burning has fresh and dry weight of stem (4.62 and 2.60 kg/hill, respectively) higher than other organic materials but not different effect in soil fertility after sugarcane harvest. Effect of chemical fertilizer application on 6 months after planting, It resulted to fresh and dry weight of stem (3.65 and 2.01 kg/hill, respectively) higher than unfertilizer (3.05 and 1.51 kg/hill, respectively). Therefore, chemical fertilizer application treatment was significant increased soil pH and EC more than unfertilizer treatment. However, applying chemical fertilizer reduced the amount of Ca and CEC in the soil. This may be due to chemical fertilizers application induce the decomposition of soil organic matter. The quality of organic materials through the combustion process (sugarcane burned residue, bagasse ash and rice husk charcoal) are highly available nutrients during first growth stage of sugarcane specially bagasse ash application. However, these organic materials were not effective enough for higher yield when compared with fertilizer
application at 6 months after planting