Title: Sugar industry press mud as alternate organic fertiliser source

Authors: Muhammad Jamil Khan; Muhammad Qasim Khan; Muhammad Sharif Zia

Addresses: Department of Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan (NWFP), Pakistan. ' Department of Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan (NWFP), Pakistan. ' Department of Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan (NWFP), Pakistan

Abstract: Organic materials are added to soil for improving soil physico-chemical properties. In the present study different doses of press mud along with NPK were applied to wheat crop in pot and field experiments. The increasing levels of press mud application improved soil physical conditions like increase in total porosity and reduced bulk density. Organic matter content, NPK, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu content in soil also increased with the press mud application. ECe, pH and exchangeable Na percentage were reduced. Increasing levels of press mud application also increased wheat yield, yield components and crop nutrient utilisation. For realising near maximum wheat yield (95% relative yield) 40 tonnes press mud per ha-1 was found to be the optimum level.

Keywords: organic amendments; press mud; soil nutrients; soil characteristics; wheat yield; nutrient uptake; sugar industry; organic fertilisers; porosity; bulk density; crop nutrients.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2012.044159

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2012 Vol.9 No.1/2, pp.41 - 55

Published online: 13 Dec 2014 *

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