Effect of Organic Farming on Growth, Yield Attributes and Yield of Sugarcane under South Gujarat Condition

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Organic Farm, Aspee College of Horticulture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat) during the rabi seasons of the years 2019–20 and 2020–21 The soil of the experimental field was clayey in texture, with electrical conductivity within the safe limit (0.46 dS/m). The soil was medium in organic carbon (0.67%) and slightly alkaline in reaction (pH 7.70), medium in available nitrogen (248.30 kg/ha) and P2O5 (43.0 kg/ha), high in available K2O (416.20 kg/ha), DTPA-extractable Fe (18.90 mg/kg), Mn (16.90 mg/kg), Cu (2.60 mg/kg), and DTPA-extractable Zn (1.48 mg/kg). The treatments, viz., (Factor A Spacing, S1: 90 cm; S2: 60-120-60 cm (paired row with green manuring). (Factor B Manure levels, M1: NADEP @ 100% RDN; M2: NADEP @ 75% RDN; M3: NADEP @ 50% RDN; and M4: NADEP @ 25% RDN + Sugarcane trash @10 t/ha + jeevamrut @ 2000 l/ha., were applied to the sugarcane crop in the rabi season and replicated three times in factorial randomized block design. Number of internodes and cane girth was not affected significantly by any of the treatments. However, total plant height and millable cane height as well as single cane weight were affected significantly by the treatment of compost only. Higher values of these parameters were observed in compost treatment M1, followed by M2, M3 and M4. Similar trend of treatments was observed in case of millable cane yield/ha. Significantly higher millable cane yield was observed in treatment M1during the years 2019-20, 2020-21 and in pooled analysis. However, this treatment was remained statistically at par with treatment M2 treatment.