The effect of gamma BHC on response of sugarcane to nitrogen, in relation to inherent soil fertility

Summary

The sugarcane plants were grown on two non-calcareous sandy loam soils of different fertility with three levels of nitrogen (0-150 kg N/ha) both in the presence and the absence of gamma BHC.

On the soil of higher fertility with respect to total mineralizable N the response to gamma BHC was higher and there was practically no response to nitrogen even up to 125 kg/ha. On the soil of low fertility, however, the response to gamma BHC was comparatively smaller and there was an increase in cane yield with the increase in the level of nitrogen. On the latter soil, nitrogen proved much more efficient in the presence of gamma BHC than in its absence. The results show that in the presence of gamma BHC response of sugarcane to nitrogen varies to a great extent in relation to potential mineralizable N in soil.