Agro-recycling of distillery effluent as liquid organic fertilizer for sugarcane

Issue Date

12-2010

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted for two growing seasons (Y2000-2002) at two sites in Batangas to evaluate the agronomic effectiveness of distillery effluent on sugarcane cv. Phil 7544 and Phil 8715. Distillery effluent alone (139 to 182 m³haˉ¹) or in combination with inorganic nitrogen(N) fertilizer at full (175kg N haˉ¹) or half (87.5 kg N haˉ¹) recommended doses were compared with the control (unfertilized) and inorganic N fertilizer alone. The treatment were applied on plant cane during the first year and on the succeeding ratoon cane. Significant increases in plant height and number of tiller of plant cane at 3 and 6 months after planting were obtained from plots treated with distillery effluent alone. Cane and sugar yields of the first season crop (plant cane) were dramatically increased by 64-71% and 37-69% over the control by distillery effluent applicant. The ratoon cane and sugar yield in both locations were lower and did not differ significantly among treatments. The overall positive effect of the distillery effluent on sugarcane was comparable with inorganic N fertilizer at full and half the recommended rates. Cane tonnage and sugar yield were also comparable when distillery effluent was used alone or combined with N. Effluent application significantly increased soil potassium but not soil pH, organic matter content and available phosphorus. The effluent also increased the ash and/or potassium content of the juice.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Journal of Crop Science

ISSN

0115-463x

Volume

35

Issue

3

Page

1-8

Document Type

Article

Frequency

tri-quarterly

Physical Description

tables

Language

English

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