Yield, quality, nutrient uptake and economics of spring sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) as influenced by balanced fertilization in clay loam soils of Rajasthan

A field experiment was conducted from 201112 to 201314 at Agricultural Research Station, Kota, Rajasthan, to find out suitable nutrient-management practices for sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). The experiment was consisted of 13 nutrient management practices, viz. control, N , N P , N P K (RDF), N P K +S , 200 200 60 200 60 40 200 60 40 40 N P K +Zn , N P K +Fe , N P K + Mn , N P K +S +Zn , N P K +S +Zn +Fe , N P K +S + 200 60 40 5 200 60 40 1 200 60 40 1 200 60 40 40 5 200 60 40 40 5 1 200 60 40 40 Zn +Fe +Mn , N P + S +Zn kg/ha as soil-test recommendation (STR) and FYM @ 20 t/ha were laid out in ran- 5 1 1 150 50 25 4 domized block design with 3 replications. Balanced fertilization of N P K along with S +Zn kg/ha had signifi- 200 60 40 40 5 cant influenced on tillers, number of millable canes (126,060/ha), single cane weight (880 g), cane yield (91.70 t/ha), commercial cane sugar yield (11.96 t/ha) and net profit ( 90,974/ha) over rest of the treatments being on a par with treatments of N P K +S , N P K +Zn , N P K +Fe , N P K +Mn , N P K +S +Zn +Fe , 200 60 40 40 200 60 40 5 200 60 40 1 200 60 40 1 200 60 40 40 5 1 N P K +S +Zn +Fe +Mn , N P +S +Zn kg/ha. Maximum nutrient uptake of N, P and K (265.3, 21.3 and 260 200 60 40 40 5 1 1 150 50 25 4 kg/ha) was recorded with application of N P K +S +Zn kg/ha over rest of the treatments and it was observed 200 60 40 40 5 higher positive net gain of N, P, K and S (8.5, 3.4, 16 and 3.7 kg/ha) was recorded over initial status of soil. The result showed that balanced application of N P K +S +Zn kg/ha may be recommended for obtaining higher 200 60 40 40 5 millable cane yield, net return and sustained soil health in spring planted in clay loam soils of Rajasthan.