Effect of Bio-methanated Distillery effluent on soil fertility, yield and quality of sugarcane in Calciorthent
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Date
2014
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Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur)
Abstract
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is one of the most important cash crops grown in all tropical and subtropical countries of the world and most efficient living collector of solar energy in the form of fibre and fermentable sugars. It provides employment not only to agricultural but also to industrial labourers in the sugar factories. Productivity of sugarcane in Bihar is 56.8 tonnes per hectare.
Sugar factories generate many by-products viz. bagasse, molasses, press mud and waste materials. Molasses is used in distillery industry as a raw material for the production of alcohol and distilleries discharge waste water called as spent wash. Its direct use in agricultural fields is generally not considered safe because of its high biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) i.e. 40,000-50,000 mg l-1 and 90,000 -100,000 mg l-1, respectively. The spent wash contains 30-35% C; 2.31% N; 0.82% P and 9.25% K. There was a remarkable reduction in BOD, COD and salinity after bio-methanization process using methane gas and utilizing methogenic bacteria. The manurial value of the effluents can profitably be used as supplement to fertilizer and organic matter.
Keeping this in view present investigation was carried at the experiment was conducted at pusa farm on calcarious sandy loam soil having pH 8.15, low in organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphrous and medium in potassium in Randomiged Block Design, replicated four times to evaluate the effect of bio-methanated distillery effluent (BMDE) on soil fertility, yield and quality of sugarcane in Calciorthent. The experiment involved seven treatments integrating BMDE and levels of NPK (T1: 100% NPK, T2: 150 m3 ha-1, T3: T2 +100% NPK, T4: T2 +75% NPK, T5: T2 +50% NPK, T6: T2 +25% NPK, T7: Control).
The cane yield of sugarcane was significantly increased by 53.4% over control with the application of BMDE @ 150 m3 ha-1 along with 100% RDF. However, Juice quality viz. Brix, Sucrose, Purity and CCS was not influenced with BMDE and nutrient application but BMDE @ 150 m3 ha-1 along with 100% RDF had greatly enhanced the NPK uptake by 52.22%, 67.46% and 58.23%, respectively over control.
Application of BMDE @ 150 m3 ha-1 along with 100% NPK greatly reduced the bulk density and increased the porosity and infiltration rate. Maximum availability of NPK was recorded with the application of recommended dose of NPK and BMDE @ 150 m3 ha-1. Whereas, higher availability of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu was obtained with the application of BMDE @ 150 m3 ha-1. Because BMDE is a rich source of micro nutrients and their interactions with chemical fertilizer decrease the availability of micronutrients. Similarly, soil microbial population as well as enzymatic activities were also increased under treatment T3 (150 m3ha-1 BMDE+ 100% NPK).
Initial application of BMDE @ 150 m3 ha-1 along with 100% RDF was statically at par with 75% NPK dose along with 150 m3 ha-1 BMDE performed best in improving cane yield, juice quality and soil health of sugarcane. Thus initial applications BMDE @ 150 m3 ha-1 could save 25% NPK.