Conjunctive use of post methanated distillery effluent and inorganic fertilizers for sustainable sugarcane cultivation

Post methanation effluent (PME) generated through biomethanation of distillery effluent was applied to arable land for augmenting agriculture production. The PME contains considerable amount of organic matter and salt besides its high plant nutrient content. The present investigation was conducted during 2004-05 on sugarcane to evaluate the impact of graded levels of post-methanation effluent (PME) with different combinations of major nutrients on soil properties and crop productivity in sandy clay loam soil. The main plot treatments viz., M-2-1.25, M-3-2.50, M-4-3.75 and M-5-5.0 lakh litres/ha of PME application were compared with control (no PME application) and the sub-plots viz., S-2-N, S-3-NP, S-4-NK, S-5-PK, S-6-NPK fertilizer treatments were compared with control (no fertilizer treatment). The fertilizer treatments received only 75% of recommended dose of fertilizers (206, 45, and 84 kg of N, P2O5 and K2O). The application of PME has significantly increased the cane yield and has left significantly higher soil organic carbon, available NPK, exchangeable cations and available micronutrients in the post-harvest soil after the crop uptake. The PME applied at 1.25 lakh litres per ha has resulted in higher yield without any adverse effect on the soil properties. The PME has substituted 25% of inorganic N and P fertilizer and 100% of inorganic K fertilizer. Thus, application of PME to arable land, as an amendment could be considered as a valuable substitute for inorganic fertilizers as well as a viable option for safe disposal of this industrial waste.