Nutrient index, microbial activity and soil quality depleted under
sugarcane mono-sequencing in Indian subtropics
Abstract
Sugarcane mono-sequencing is one of the prominent systems of Uttar
Pradesh but wide variations in cane yields are the main cause of concern
across the cane producing zones. Hence, 131, 198 and 122 composite soil
samples (0-20 cm depth) were taken from cane producing Eastern zone
(EZ), Central zone (CZ) and Western zone (WZ) of Uttar Pradesh,
respectively to assess the causes of yield variations and impact of
sugarcane mono-sequencing on nutrient index (NI), microbial activity and
soil quality. Sugarcane mono-sequencing depleted soil organic carbon
(SOC), available nitrogen (Na), potassium (Ka), sulphur (Sa) and Zn as
48.9, 98.2, 39.0, 43.3 and 26.4% soil samples falls in low categories,
respectively. However, soil degradation aggregated more in EZ soils due
to acute deficiency of macro-nutrients as well as high content of Cu, Fe
and Mn in low-lying areas. Total microbial counts, microbial biomass of
C and N, basal soil respiration, acid and alkaline phosphatase were
highest in WZ, but Na, Pa, Ka, Sa, FDA, β-glucosidase and urease
activity was greater in CZ soils. As a result, NI was greater in CZ
(2.19) followed EZ (1.98) and WZ (1.97), but soil quality index (SQI)
was found in the order of CZ (0.795) >WZ (0.785)
> EZ (0.708). The sensitivity index (S) was lowest in CZ
soils (1.420) indicated that WZ (1.810) and EZ (1.915) soils are more
preferable and sensitive to perturbations and management practices. Na
was the most vital indicator for sugarcane production followed by SOC,
AZO and Sa.