Studies on Nutrient uptake, Nutrient use Efficiency and Water Productivity of Drip Irrigated Ratoon Sugarcane as Influenced by Water Soluble Fertilizers

A field experiment was conducted at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, V.C. Farm, Mandya during 2020-21 to study the Nutrient content and Uptake of Drip irrigated Ratoon Sugarcane as influenced by water soluble fertilizers. The experimental site was red sandy loam soil with neutral pH, normal electrical conductivity, medium organic carbon, low available nitrogen, medium phosphorus and potassium content. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications comprising seven treatments with VCF-0517 sugarcane variety. The results revealed that application of 150 per cent RDF through WSF (325.9 kg ha-1 N, 46.5 kg ha-1 P2O5, 338.4 K2O kg ha-1) recorded significantly higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake compared to 100 per cent RDF through WSF (287.3 kg ha-1 N, 37.5 kg ha-1 P2O5, 282.6 kg ha-1 K2O) and 75 per cent RDF through WSF (269.9 kg ha-1 N, 33.4 kg ha-1 P2O5, 253.6 kg ha-1 K2O). Application of WSF at 75 per cent RDF resulted in greater NUE in case of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (348.3 kg kg-1, 870.7 kg kg-1 and 696.5 kg kg-1 respectively) when compared with other fertigation levels and conventional fertilizer application.