SINHA, S.K.RAM, BHOJA2023-02-242023-02-242021M/SS/362 /2019 20https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810194449The field experiment was conducted to study the “Effect of Press mud and Biofertilizer on Soil fertility and Productivity of sugarcane in calcareous soil”. during 2020 2021 at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar. The treatment s compris ed of sulphitat ed press mud cake ( with Trichoderma viride , phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and 100 % chemical fertilizer ( were replicated in RBD. The application of SPMC along with T. viride and PSB significantly reduced the pH and increased EC of soil. The highest pH was recorded in control (8.46) and lowest in plots receiving SPMC + T. viride and PSB in combination (8.01). The mean EC varied (0.39 - 0.47 dSm-1) significantly. The mean organic carbon varied (0.39 - 0.51 %) significantly with maximum increment (23.80 %) in the plots receiving SPMC @ 12.5 t/ha along with T. viride + PSB over control. The application of SPMC with T. viride and biofertilizer significantly increased the availability of macro and micronutrients in soil over control after sugarcane harvest. The mean NPK and S content varied and ranged from (235.33 - 283.70 kg/ha), (11.75 - 19.96 kg/ha), (103.08 - 157.10 kg/ha) and (14.7 - 18.5 kg/ha). The mean value for available micronutrient viz. Fe (9.81 - 14.68 mg/kg), Zn (0.64 - 0.74 mg/kg), Cu (1.31 - 1.65 mg/kg) and Mn (3.82 - 5.71 mg/kg) varied significantly. The treatment receiving SPMC @ 12.5 t/ha along with T. viride + PSB recorded maximum availability of macro (NPK and S) and micro nutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn). The population of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes varied significantly and increase due to addition of SPMC, treated with T. virideviride and PSB. The highest bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes population were recorded in receiving SPMC @ 12.5 t/ha along with T. virideviride + PSB. The addition of SPMC indicated a significant improvement in bulk density, soil moisture content and pore space of post-harvest soil and being the highest in plots receiving SPMC + T. virideviride along with PSB. The growth characteristics, yield attributes and cane yield increased significantly in all the SPMC treatments over control. The highest germination, no. of tiller, plant hight, NMC, cane girth and single cane girth was observed in the plots receiving SPMC @ 12.5 t/ha along with T. virideviride + PSB. The mean cane yield varied (57.83 - 71.98 t/ha) significantly. The addition of sulphitated press mud cake either with T. virideviride alone and in combination of PSB resulted in profitable yield of sugarcane crop. However, SPMC treatments (SPMC @ 5 - 12.5 t/ha) was found at par. The effect of the treatment on the cane juice quality viz. brix, sucrose, purity and CCS was found to be non-significant. The commercial cane sugar remained unchanged. The sugar yield varied (5.34 - 8.37 t/ha) significantly in plots treated with SPMC over control. The uptake of nutrients by sugarcane plant (NPK and micronutrients) significantly influenced due to application of either SPMC + T. virideviride or SPMC + T. virideviride + PSB. The uptake of NPK and S enhances significantly in organic added plots as compared to control. The uptake of N (218.74 - 292.54 kg/ha), P (16.90 - 32.64 kg/ha), K (198.65 - 278.55 kg/ha), and S (25.37 - 38.93 kg/ha) varied significantly. The mean value varied for Fe (227.91 - 530.53 g/ha), Zn (168.90 - 454.12 g/ha), Cu (75.87 - 109.86 g/ha) and Mn (174.67 - 434.25 g/ha). Based on above findings it may be concluded that application of SPMC @ 5.0 t/ha + T. viride along with PSB was found suitable for obtaining higher cane and sugar yield with significant improvement in the physical, chemical and biological properties of calcareous soil.EnglishThesis