Effect ofliming on the sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum ) yield, juice quality and available soil nutrients in acid soil

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during 1997 - 01 to study the effect of liming on sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) on a clay loam soil with pH 4.8. LiIne was applied@0, 12.5,25, 37.5 and 50% of linle requirement with and without P. Litne requirement was found to be 2 tonnes/ha. Cane yield increased significantly due to liming with an increase of 5.2 to 16.9% over the control. Application of linle slightly improved the quality ofjuice by increasing the sucrose and decreasing the glucose content of cane juice caused by enhanced maturity. Residual effect oflinling on the cane yield and quality ofjuice in ratoon sugarcane crop were significant. Liming also in1proved the available N, P and K status of the soil. Cost: benefit ratio of the ratoon sugarcane crop increased considerably with the increasing levels of liming and 37.50/0 lime requirement level was found to be optimum.