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Response of Sweet Sorghum After Fertigation with Sugar Mill Effluent in Two Seasons

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Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to access the agro-potentiality of sugar mill effluent (SME) as fertigant, and an alternative of irrigation water. Fertigation response of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 % of SME doses on Sorghum bicolor L., cv. CSH 9, in the rainy and summer seasons was investigated. The fertigant concentration produced significant (P < 0.01) changes in EC, pH, OC, Na+, Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, TKN, PO4 3−, SO4 2−, Fe2+, Zn, Cd, Cu, Mn and Cr of the soil in both seasons. The agronomic performance of S. bicolor gradually increased from 20 to 40 % concentration and decreased at 60 to 100 % concentration of SME fertigation in both seasons compared to controls. The optimum growth of S. bicolor was recorded with 40 % concentration of SME. The accumulation of heavy metals increased in soil and S. bicolor from 20 % to 100 % SME concentrations in both seasons. Biochemical components like crude proteins, crude fiber and crude carbohydrates were found maximum with 40 % SME in both seasons. The contamination factor of various heavy metals was in order of Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Cd for soil and Cu > Mn > Zn > Cr > Cd for S. bicolor in both seasons after fertigation with SME.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BD:

Bulk density

BIS:

Bureau of Indian Standards

HI:

Harvest index

LAI:

Leaf area index

SME:

Sugar mill effluent

WHC:

Water holding capacity

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Acknowledgments

The University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India is acknowledged for providing the financial support in the form of UGC research fellowship (F.7-70/2007-2009 BSR) to Dr. Vinod Kumar.

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  1. Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar, 249404, Uttarakhand, India

    Vinod Kumar & A. K. Chopra

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  1. Vinod Kumar
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Correspondence to Vinod Kumar.

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Kumar, V., Chopra, A.K. Response of Sweet Sorghum After Fertigation with Sugar Mill Effluent in Two Seasons. Sugar Tech 15, 285–299 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-013-0226-9

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