Dr. B. VAJANTHAGOBIDESI RAVITEJA2024-05-222024-05-222024-05-22D6580https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810209368Integrated use of microbial inoculants and fertilizers was evaluated for crop response, soil fertility and economic feasibility in sugarcane short crop through field experiment during 2021-22 at Agricultural Research Station, Perumallapalle, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. The experimental soil was neutral in reaction, non saline, low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in potassium. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with ten treatments and three replications. The treatments comprises of viz., Control 100% RDF (T1), 125% RDF (T2), 100% RDF + soil application of solid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T3), 100% RDF + sett treatment with solid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T4), 75% RDF + soil application of solid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T5), 75% RDF + sett treatment with solid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T6), 100% RDF + soil application of liquid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T7), 100% RDF + sett treatment with liquid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T8), 75% RDF + soil application of liquid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T9) and 75% RDF + sett treatment with liquid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T10). The recommended dose of fertilizers for sugarcane short crop is 224-112-112 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 . Solid Gluconacetobacter, PSB and KSB were applied @ 10 kg ha-1 each for soil application. The recommended dose of solid biofertilizers for sett treatment was 10 kg - 1.25 kg - 1.25 kg ha-1 of Gluconacetobacter, PSB and KSB, respectively. Recommended dose of liquid Gluconacetobacter, PSB and KSB for soil xvi application was 1 l, 1.25 l and 1.25 l ha-1 , respectively. Similar quantity of liquid Gluconacetobacter, PSB and KSB was used for sett treatment. Among ten treatments significantly the highest germination percentage of sugarcane short crop was observed with 100% RDF + sett treatment with liquid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T8). Significantly the highest dry matter production was recorded with 100% RDF + sett treatment with liquid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T8) at tillering, grand growth and harvest stages. Significantly the highest number of tillers, shoot population, stalk population, cane length and cane yield was produced with the application of 100% RDF + sett treatment with liquid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T8). Combined application of 100% RDF and sett treatment with liquid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T8) resulted significantly the highest N, P, K, S, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu uptake by plant at tillering, grand growth and harvest stages. Significantly the highest available N, P2O5, K2O and S in soil was observed with the application of 100% RDF + soil application of liquid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T7) at tillering and grand growth stage while, at harvest it was at par with 100% RDF + soil application of solid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T3). The DTPA extractable Fe and Zn in soil were significantly superior with 100% RDF + soil application of liquid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T7) at tillering, grand growth and harvest stages. Application of 100% RDF + soil application of liquid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T7) resulted significantly the highest urease, dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activity at tillering and grand growth stage whereas, it was on par with 100% RDF + soil application of solid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T3) at harvest. All these enzymes activities were increased from tillering to grand growth and later decreased at harvest. Among the treatments, the highest number of soil microbial population viz., bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes were observed with 100% RDF + sett treatment with liquid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T8) which was on par with 100% RDF + soil application of liquid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T7) at tillering, grand growth and harvest stages. Higher benefit cost ratio was obtained with 100% RDF + sett treatment with liquid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T8) followed by 100% RDF + sett treatment with solid Gluconacetobacter + PSB + KSB (T7). In conclusion, the study indicated that application of 100% RDF along with sett treatment with liquid Gluconacetobacter, PSB and KSB to sugarcane is found to be ecologically and economically feasible nutrient management practice to achieve sustainable yields in Southern Agroclimatic Zone of Andhra Pradesh.EnglishThesis