Identification of integrated nutrient management for sustaining soil health and sugarcane yield in South Western Punjab

A field study was conducted from 2006-2010 for three plant - ratoon cycles of sugarcane at Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Station, Faridkot to explore the possibilities of incorporating organic components of nutrients in sugarcane cultivation. Nitrogen was applied as organic (FYM) and inorganic (urea) in various proportions. In addition to urea and FYM, biofertilizer (Azofobacter and PSB) and trash mulching was applied and green manuring of green gram (Phaseolus radiata) was done in various treatments. The pest control was also done by chemicals or by cultural practices. The pooled results for three years indicated that in plant crop, the cane yield of 80.4 t ha^sup -1^ was obtained when recommended dose of N was given as urea and pests were controlled chemically. Replacing 25% N by FYM showed good performance in plant-ratoon system indicating possibilities of saving 25% nitrogen fertilizers without affecting yield levels of sugarcane.