Evaluation of BioAg Biotechnical Nutrients in the Production of Sugarcane in North India

Transcription

1 Evaluation of BioAg Biotechnical Nutrients in the Production of Sugarcane in North India Dr S.K. Barathan Roy, Centre for Strategic Studies, Kolkata, India 1. Introduction In 2011, BioAg Pty Ltd commissioned the Centre for Strategic Studies, in Kolkata, West Bengal to assess the economic benefit of applying biotechnical nutrients to sugarcane crops in Northern India. BioAg is a manufacturer and supplier of biotechnical agricultural fertilisers in Australia. The trial objective was to investigate the effectiveness of BioAg bio-stimulants for improving the growth, yield and quality of sugarcane crops. The trial was undertaken on a site in the Hooghly District in West Bengal. It commenced with planting on 30 th October 2011 and was completed with harvesting in October The trial was replicated and randomized trial. The control treatment was applied according to standard district practice (recommended by Department of Agriculture, West Bengal); three different BioAg programs were compared with it. 2. Background India is the second largest sugarcane producing country in the world behind Brazil. Table 1.: Major Sugarcane Producing Countries Country ha (millions) Annual production (million tonne) Average yield (t/ha) Brazil India China Thailand Pakistan Australia Argentina USA Indonesia In India, the sugar industry is the second largest agriculture based industry after textile fibres. It raises over INR 22.5 billion in taxes for the commonwealth and state governments. It plays a vital role in socio-economic development in the rural areas, mobilizing rural resources and generating high income for farmers and related industries as well as employment opportunities. About 7.5% of the rural population is involved in the sugarcane industry, including 45 million sugarcane farmers and their dependents, and a large number of skilled and unskilled workers. BioAg Sugarcane Trial (North India) Page 1

2 Table 2.: Sugarcane Production in India State Area ( 000 ha) Yield (irrigated) (t/ha) Uttar Pradesh 1, Maharashtra Tamil Nadu Andra Pradesh Gujarat Karnataka Haryana Bihar Punjab Madhya Pradesh Table 3.: Indian Sugarcane Production Statistics 78% of sugarcane is used for sugar production 15% of the crop is used for the production of various other sweets (Gur) 7% of sugarcane is used for bio-fuel production There are 468 functioning sugarcane mills in India Sugar production in was 24.4 million tonne c/f 18.5 tonne in The sugar recovery rate is 10.17% in India compared with 14% in developed countries 3. Trial Methodology 3.1 Design The trial design is shown in Table 4.: Table 4.: BioAg Sugarcane Trial Design Trial site Dashgara (Hoogly) Planting Date 30 th Oct 2011 Harvesting Date 04 th Oct 2012 Sugarcane variety Khari Planting material 30 cm long clones with 2 buds Planting density 15,000 per ha Row to row space 100cm No: of Treatments 4 (including control) Trial Design Randomized Block Design Plot size 18m 2 Number of Replications 4 The information listed in Table 5. was collected by the research team. BioAg Sugarcane Trial (North India) Page 2

3 Table 5.: Data Collected Plant Height (270 DAP) Cane Diameter (cm) Yield (t/ha) Extractable Juice per cane (ml) Brix value of the juice The data were collected separately for each replication and the mean value calculated. The data were analyzed using Anova (RBD method); the mean values were compared by LSD; means with different letters differ significantly. 3.2 Treatments The following treatments were applied at each site: The treatment used in the control plots comprised urea, single super phosphate (SSP), muriate of potash (MOP), zinc sulphate, boron (B) and phosphor-bacteria at district practice recommended levels (Agriculture Department, West Bengal). The BioAg products under trial were: BioAgPhos (BAP): Soil & Seed (S&S): Biologically digested reactive phosphate rock A soil and seed treatment which encourages rapid root establishment, enhanced nutrient uptake and soil microbial activity Table 6.: Trial Treatments Cow manure Urea SSP MOP ZnSO 4 B S&S BioAgPhos Phospho- Bacteria T1 (control) 10T 435kg 465kg 168kg 2kg 1kg 1.5kg T2 10T 435kg 465kg 168kg 2kg 1kg 30Lts T3 10T 435kg 168kg 2kg 1kg 301kg T4 10T 435kg 168kg 2kg 1kg 30Lts 301kg 3.3 Trial Sites Figure 1.: Sugarcane Trial Site, Dashgara Hoogly, West Bengal, India BioAg Sugarcane Trial (North India) Page 3

4 The site selected was in North India, in the Gangetic plains of West Bengal. The Gangetic plains of North India are recognized as one of the largest sugarcane producing regions in the world. 3.4 Applications The treatments listed in Table 6. were applied in accordance with the following schedule. Table 7.: Fertiliser Application Schedule Basal Dose (T1) Control (T2) BioAg 1 (S&S) (T3) BioAg 2 ( BAP) (T4) BioAg 3 (S&S + BAP) Cow Manure (t) Urea (kg) SSP (kg) MOP (kg) S&S (l) BAP (kg) Zinc Sulphate (kg) Boron (kg) Phospho Bacteria (kg) 1.5 At the planting (T1) Control (T2) BioAg 1 (S&S) (T3) BioAg 2 ( BAP) (T4) BioAg 3 (S&S + BAP) Cow Manure (t) Urea (kg) SSP (kg) MOP (kg) S&S (l) BAP (kg) Zinc Sulphate (kg) Boron (kg) Phospho Bacteria (kg) 8 weeks after planting (T1) Control (T2) BioAg 1 (S&S) (T3) BioAg 2 ( BAP) (T4) BioAg 3 (S&S + BAP) Cow Manure (t) Urea (kg) SSP (kg) MOP (kg) S&S (l) 5 5 BAP (kg) Zinc Sulphate (kg) Boron (kg) Phospho Bacteria (kg) 16 weeks after planting (T1) Control (T2) BioAg 1 (S&S) (T3) BioAg 2 ( BAP) (T4) BioAg 3 (S&S + BAP) Cow Manure (t) Urea (kg) SSP (kg) MOP (kg) S&S (l) 5 5 BAP (kg) Zinc Sulphate (kg) Boron (kg) Phospho Bacteria (kg) 20 weeks after planting (T1) Control (T2) BioAg Treatment S&S (T3) BioAg Treatment BAP (T4) BioAg Treatment S&S + BAP Cow Manure (t) Urea (kg) SSP (kg) MOP (kg) S&S (l) BAP (kg) Zinc Sulphate (kg) Boron (kg) Phospho Bacteria (kg) BioAg Sugarcane Trial (North India) Page 4

5 4. Conditions 4.1 Climatic Conditions The climatic data for the region for a 10 year period are provided in Table 8. Table 8.: Annual Weather Data for West Bengal Climate Data for Kolkata (West Bengal) ( ) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average high C Average low C Rainfall mm ,800 Avg. rainy days ( 1.0 mm) Mean monthly sunshine hours , Soil Test results The site selected was typical of Gangetic alluvial soil, low in phosphorus and organic matter. Generally, the Gangetic soil texture is loamy to sandy clay, and slightly low in ph. These soil types prevail in most parts of North India. The results of soil tests at the trial site are shown in Table 9. Table 9.: Composite Soil Sample Results from the Dashgara Site Parameter Test Result ph 5.71 CEC (Meq/100g soil) Organic matter % 0.78 C:N ratio 133:1 N-NO - 3 (ppm) 29.4 N-NH + 4 (ppm) 29.5 N Organic (ppm) 162 P-Inorganic (ppm) 39 Ca (%) Mg (%) K ppm 16.3 Zn -ppm 2.2 Fe - µg/g 22 Cu - µg/g 1.7 B - µg/g 0.4 Mn - µg/g 37 BioAg Sugarcane Trial (North India) Page 5

6 5. Observations 5.1.: Vegetative Growth There was a significant difference in the vegetative growth (plant height). From the initial stage, the vegetative growth was better in all BioAg treatments, as may be observed in Figure 2. Figure 2.: Images Showing Vegetative Growth at Different Stages Figure 2.1.: Plant Height at 60 DAP Figure 2.2.: Plant Height at 120 DAP Figure 2.3.: Plant Height at 150 DAP Figure 2.4.: Plant Height at 180 DAP Table 10.: Cane Height and Cane Diameter at Harvest Cane Height (cm) Cane Diameter (cm) T1 (Control) c 4.8 b T2 (BioAg 1 with S&S) b (17% increase) 5.1 ab (7% increase) T3 (BioAg 2 with BAP) b (24% increase) 4.7 b (-2%) T4 (BioAg 3 with S&S + BAP) a (44% increase) 5.4 a (12% increase) Statistical Method: (ANOVA, RBD Single Factor) Mean values with different letters differ significantly. BioAg Sugarcane Trial (North India) Page 6

7 As shown in Figure 2. above, the BioAg treated plants have demonstrated much better vegetative growth than the control from the initial stage. At the harvesting stage following observations were made: The cane heights of all the BioAg treated plants were greater than those of the control plants. The cane diameters of BioAg 1 and BioAg 3 treated plants were greater than those of the control; except that the mean diameter was 2% lower in the BioAg 2 treatment. The BioAg 3 treatment demonstrated the best vegetative growth. The cane height was 44% greater than in the control. The BioAg 2 treated plants exhibited 24% better cane height than that of the control. The cane height and cane diameter are two very important indicators of plant biomass. The mean values of both exhibited a similar trend, indicating BioAg 3 treatment as the best to achieve high plant biomass. The cane diameter of the BioAg 2 treatment was slightly lower than that of the control, however cane height was greater. Figure 3.: Cane Heights and Diameters at Harvest Under the Different Treatments BioAg Sugarcane Trial (North India) Page 7

8 5.2.: Root Development Figure 4.: Root Biomass at Harvest Root biomass is an important indicator of efficiency of nutrient uptake, which leads to better growth and yield. In this trial, the research team could not collect the root biomass data, however some images were taken at the harvesting stage. These images indicated that the BioAg treated plants showed higher amounts of root biomass and higher numbers of tillers, particularly in T2 and T3. Figure 5.: Yield Performance Under Different Fertiliser Treatments Yield performance against applied N and P units is an important indicator of nutrient uptake efficiency. The results of this trial show that the BioAg applications increase the yield performance per N and P unit by 17%, 28%, and 53% over the control application. BioAg Sugarcane Trial (North India) Page 8

9 5.3 Yield Sugarcane yield in India is not consistent, there being a vast difference between the states. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra record high yields (>85 t/ha), compared with those of other states at approximately 60 t/ha. The average yield in the state of West Bengal is 62t/ha. The BioAg crops yielded between 60.2t/ha and 78.5t/ha a 17% to 53% yield increase over the control. Figure 6.: Sugarcane Yields Under Different Fertiliser Treatments The results of this trial show that all of the BioAg treatments have significantly increased the yield. BioAg 3 treatment gave the best yield at 78.5 t/ha - 53% better than control, and 21% better than state average yield. BioAg 2 treatment produced a 23% better yield, and BioAg 1 treatment had 17% better yield than the control. 5.4 Revenue Analysis Sugarcane is a high revenue crop for Indian farmers, with good demand throughout the year, but the revenue varies from state to state. Figure 6.: Gross and Net Revenue From the Trial Sugarcane Crops BioAg Sugarcane Trial (North India) Page 9

10 The fertiliser input cost is approximately 25% of the total production cost in Maharashtra state, compared with 10% in Haryana state. The results of this trial show that the BioAg treatments have increased both gross and net revenues for the crops. The BioAg 1 treatment had an increased investment of INR 6,780 per ha over the control, but the net revenue was increased by INR 14,580 (215% ROI). The BioAg 2 treatment was less expensive than the control treatment (8%), but it has increased the net revenue by 33%. The BioAg 3 treatment had an extra fertiliser cost of INR 5,845 per ha, but it shows an increased net revenue of INR 59,555 per ha (>10 times ROI). 5.5 Sugarcane Juice Extraction Figure 7.: Sugarcane Juice Extract per Plant These data were not collected, however juice extraction data were collected from randomly selected plants. This information is provided in Table 11. Table 11.: Juice Yield Per Plant (average of 5 plants) Treatment Juice Yield (ml) Control 250 BioAg BioAg BioAg The results show that all the BioAg treatments have increased the juice yield per plant. In the case of the BioAg 2 and BioAg 3 treatments, the volume is double that of the control. 6. Discussion The Indian sugarcane industry supplies the following downstream manufacturing industries: sugar, kandsari, gur, molasses, and ethanol. Less than 8% is used in ethanol production. Brazil is the largest sugarcane producer in the world and the second largest producer of ethanol. Forty five percent of Brazilian motor vehicles use ethanol in their fuel, yet the Indian usage is less than 1% of vehicles. However, this industry has an enormous opportunity to develop. The whole sugarcane industry is seeking efficient fertilisers to reduce production costs. BioAg Sugarcane Trial (North India) Page 10

11 Three BioAg nutritional programs were tested in this trial: BioAg 1 Soil & Seed application (fertigation) BioAg 2 BioAgPhos as the phosphate fertiliser application BioAg 3 combined BioAgPhos and Soil & Seed application This trial has demonstrated that the BioAg biotech nutritional treatments tested have improved the cane yield, cane size, crop yield and the net financial return. All three BioAg treatments have significantly increased the crop yields and the revenue. The BioAg 3 treatment (combining BioAgPhos and Soil & Seed) increased the yield and net revenue each by 55%. Phosphorus is a key nutrient required for higher and sustainable productivity of sugarcane. Its influence on cane yield and juice quality has been well established. Sugarcane crops generally take up kg of phosphorus units per tonne of sugarcane. Phosphorus fertilisers in India are expensive and are very inefficient; as a consequence Indian farmers have reduced their phosphorus application levels. For this reason, the sugarcane crop usually does not get an adequate supply of phosphorus, which has an adverse effect on the yield. Phosphorus in commercial fertilisers (such as single superphosphate) is initially available in soil, however it become immobile or unavailable to the plants; it has been widely reported that 75-80% of P units of these fertilisers are not available for plant uptake. BioAgPhos is a microbially mediated phosphate fertiliser, which has multiple mechanisms for phosphate mobility in the soil and uptake in the rhizosphere. This phenomenon has been well documented and demonstrated in number of other crops. In a number of trials conducted by this organisation on a variety of crops, the application of BioAgPhos has demonstrated greater efficiency of phosphorus uptake compared with other types of phosphorus fertilisers. This trial has demonstrated that BioAgPhos is a more efficient means of phosphorus application to sugarcane than single superphosphate under North Indian conditions. According to this study, the BioAgPhos application (BioAg 2) has resulted in: A yield improvement by 28% Vegetative growth improvement A net financial return increase of 33% Moreover, treatment BioAg 3 (the combined application of BioAgPhos and Soil & Seed) produced even better results: Better vegetative growth by 44% Better yield by 53% Better cane diameter by 12% Better net financial return by 55% The average sugarcane yield in West Bengal is 62.5t/ha based on standard fertiliser application. The results of this trial clearly demonstrate that BioAgPhos is a more efficient source of phosphorus, reducing the total fertiliser cost by 8%, and increasing fertiliser efficiency, crop yield and net financial return. BioAg Sugarcane Trial (North India) Page 11

12 Research Co-ordinator Dr S.K. Barthan Roy Centre for Strategic Studies AE 607, Salt Lake City Kolkata, West Bengal India Australian Contact Upul Gunawardena Market Development Manager (Asia) BioAg Pty Ltd Twynam Street Narrandera NSW 2700 BioAg, BioAgPhos and Soil & Seed are registered trademarks of BioAg Pty Ltd BioAg Sugarcane Trial (North India) Page 12

13 Appendix 1. - Key Trial Data Parameter INR Mill gate value of sugarcane per tonne 2,400 Fertiliser prices Cow manure per tonne 500 Urea per tonne 6,000 SSP per tonne 9,000 MOP per tonne 12,000 ZnSO 4 per kg 200 Boron per litre 70 Soil & Seed per litre 231 BioAgPhos per tonne 10,800 Total Fertiliser Costs (per ha) Control treatment (T1) 14,431 BioAg 1 treatment (T2) 21,211 BioAg 2 treatment (T3) 13,346 BioAg 3 treatment (T4) 20,276 Appendix 2. - Data Analysis Analysis of Variance (RBD) -Yield Source of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit Between Groups E Within Groups Total Other descriptive statistics Mean Sum ST Dev Minimum Maximum Median T T T T BioAg Sugarcane Trial (North India) Page 13

14 Analysis of Variance (RBD) -Cane Height Source of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit Between Groups E Within Groups Total Other descriptive statistics Mean Sum ST Dev Minimum Maximum Median T T T T Analysis of Variance (RBD) -Cane Diameter Source of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit Between Groups Within Groups Total Other descriptive statistics Mean Sum ST Dev Minimum Maximum Median T T T T Appendix 3. - Information Sources a) Martin, M., Oya, K., Shinjo, T., Horiguchi, T., Yield and quality of Sugarcane as affected by phosphate application on soils of various phosphorus levels. Soil fertility b) Murthy, S., Economics of sugarcane production and processing. Report by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural development c) Rakkiyappan, P., Thangavelu, S., Bhagyalakshmi, V., Radhamani, R Uptake of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium by some promising mid late maturing sugarcane clones. Sugar Tech d) Sundara, B., Natarajan, V., Effect of source and time of Phosphorous application with and without Phosphorous solubilizing bacteria on sugarcane. In: Proceedings of the annual convention of sugar technology association of India, Goa, September 1997, e) Sundara, B., Natarajan, V., Influence of Phosphorous solubilizing bacteria on the changes in soil available Phosphorus and sugarcane and sugar yields. Crop Research 77 (2002) BioAg Sugarcane Trial (North India) Page 14