EFFECT OF PRESSMUD AND FERTILIZER ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF PLANT AND RATOON SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM-OFFICINARUM) IN FLOOD-PRONE AREAS

A field experiment was conducted during 1988-90 and 1989-91 to study t he effect of fertilizer and pressmud on yield and quality of plant and ratoon sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). Pressmud alone or in com bination with nitrogen improved the cane yield and quality of plant an d ratoon crops. Pressmud @ 33 tonnies/ha + 120 kg N/ha increase the ra toon yield by 32% over recommended dose of 150 kg N/ha + 60 kg P2O5/ha + 50 kg K2O/ha. However, total cane production was 5.5% higher with p ressmud @ 30 tonnes/ha + 120 kg N/ha compared with 150 kg N/ha + 60 kg P2O5/ha + 50 kg K2O/ha. Sucrose and sugar contents (%) of plant cane were higher in the control plot; however, pressmud @ 30 tonnes/ha + 12 0 kg N/ha recorded the highest sucrose and sugar content (%) in ratoon crop. The total production of commercial cane sugar was 13.1% higher in pressmud @ 30 tonnes/ha + 120 kg N/ha compared with 150 kg N/ha + 6 0 kg P2O5/ha + 30 kg K2O/ha. The highest net profit and benefit:cost r atio were Rs 6,0636/ha and 17.6 respectively under pressmud @ 30 tonne s/ha + 120 kg N/ha.