Nutrient management through npk briquettes for sugarcane ratoon

A field experiment was conducted at the Central Sugarcane Research Station, Padegaon, Dist. Satara (M.S.) to study the effect of briquette on sugarcane ratoon for cane yield, nutrient uptake and soil health during 2009-10 to 2011-12 for three years. The results indicated that application of 100 % RD NPK through briquette recorded significantly highest cane yield and CCS yield and it was at par with application of 75 % RD NPK through briquettes. The same treatments 100 % RD NPK through briquette and 75 % RD NPK through briquette recorded improvement in soil health after completion of three years. The highest fertilizer use efficiency of N, P and K fertilizers were recorded in the treatment 100 % RD NPK through briquettes. The % increase in fertilizer use efficiency of briquettes over non briquettes was highest in 75 % RD NPK through briquettes. The application of 75 % RD NPK through briquettes recorded higher cane yield of sugarcane ratoon, higher B:C ratio with improvement in soil health.