Macronutrient Status and Soil Chemical Properties as Influenced by Methods and Schedule of Fertilization in Karnal Alfisols under Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) Cultivation

An experiment was conducted at the Regional Research Station , Uchani (Karnal) of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India during 2020-21 to assess the effect of the method and schedule of fertilizer application on macronutrient status viz. available Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and potassium(K) and soil chemical properties i.e. soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC)  and soil organic carbon (SOC) at different intervals of the crop growth period. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with two methods of fertilizer application (B1-broadcasting and B2- band placement) as main plot treatments and four sub plot treatments consisting of the application of recommended doses of  N and K fertilizer (RDF) in the different number of splits at different number of days after planting (DAP) i.e. T1(five splits), T2(six splits), T3(seven splits) and T4(three splits). Results elucidated that the availability of all the macronutrients was significantly affected by  both sub and main-plot treatments at different stages of crop growth period. Available N content was found to be significantly higher in B2 compared to B1 at all the time intervals from 75 DAP (131.86 Kg ha-1 ) to harvest (145.91 Kg ha-1 ) reaching the maximum at 180 DAP (142.80 Kg ha-1). Among the sub plot treatments, T4 and T1 respectively reported significantly higher values of available N from 75 DAP (134.51 Kg ha-1 ) to 90 DAP (147.08 Kg ha-1) and 90 DAP(153.10 Kg ha-1) to 150 DAP(162.11 Kg ha-1). At 180 DAP and at the time of harvesting, significantly higher values of available N (159.21 Kg ha-1  and  157.01Kg ha-1 ) were observed in treatments receiving fertilizer in T2 and T3 splits respectively. Available K content was significantly higher in B1 compared to B2 at all the time intervals except at 0, 150, 180 DAP and at harvest where the difference was not significant. Higher values of available K were reported under T4 upto 75 DAP (225.30 Kg ha-1) and thereafter, T1 exhibited significantly higher available K values upto 150 DAP (222.06 Kg ha-1). At 180 DAP and at the time of harvesting, significantly higher values of available K (225.10 Kg ha-1  227.48 Kg ha-1) were observed in T2 and T3 respectively. Available P content was significantly higher (24.63 Kg ha-1) in B1 compared to B2 at the time of harvesting.  Soil pH, EC and SOC did not registered any significant change under any treatment. Overall treatment B2 and T1 emerged out be best among main and sub-plot treatments respectively. Availing the suitable methods and schedule of fertilization improved the status of micronutrients in soil during the active growth stage of crop.