ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE RICE PRODUCTION WITH THE APPLICATION OF SUGARCANE INDUSTRIAL BY-PRODUCTS

Sugarcane industries generate a variety of by-products, which create disposal and environmental problems. The aim of current study was to find out the ways for utilization of these by-products in rice production. To elucidate this, a field trial was conducted at the research area (30.2°E; 71.5N°) of Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan. The calcareous soil with high pH (8.6) and low organic matter (0.5%) was used with following treatments: no input control (CK), only chemical fertilizer, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK; CF), NPK+ Sugarcane Bagasse (SB), NPK+ Press Mud (PM), NPK+ Sugarcane Vinasse (SV), NPK+SB+PM (SB+PM), NPK+SB+SV (SB+SV), NPK+PM+SV (PM+SV), NPK+SB+PM+SV (SB+PM+SV). The results showed that SB significantly increased the plant height (16.3%), panicle length (9.3%), paddy yield (213.1%), and straw yield (189. 9%). Nutrient uptake was also improved, SB enhanced TN (324.6%), while the SB+PM increased the total phosphorus (318.2%), and total potassium (163.7%) contents in grains. Likewise, agronomic nutrient use efficiency was enhanced in SB treatment for N (274.2%), P (81.4%), and K (378.5%). Maximum net profit and benefit-cost ratio was observed in SB (93925 rupees; 0.54), followed by PM (91150; 0.53), SB+PM (85338; 0.51), and minimum was in control (12400; 0.22), respectively. The study concludes, application of organic by-products (SB+PM) can increase rice productivity and farm income with environmental safety.