Eco-friendly Cane Cultivation:
Use of Bio Fertilizers:
Modern agriculture is dependent upon the supply of chemical fertilizer, which are
becoming scarcer and more costly day by day. These are major agents which contribute
to water and land pollution. Bio Fertilizer is a large production of a group of beneficial
microorganisms. Bio fertilizers are not only saves chemical fertilizer but also safeguards
environment and soil health. Composting improves the water holding capacity of the soil
while application of bio-fertilizers containing beneficial microorganisms as well as helps
in sustaining the soil fertility and reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers, which have
detrimental effect on soil structure, crop productivity and groundwater quality in the long
run. It is economical to use biofertilizer as these are a cheap source of nutrients as
compared to chemical fertilizers and has potential to increase yields by up to 20%. The
major benefit of the application of bio-fertilizer is that it gives additional strength to crop
to withstand in drought situation too.
To promote ecofriendly sugarcane cultivation NSL has started producing on its own bio-
fertilizer viz NUZI FERT–N and NUZI FERT–P. Identifying the reason for not scaling up
the bio-fertilizer application; NSL has taken initiative to distribute bio-fertilizers to farmers
on subsidy/cheaper rate than the market price, which helps farmers to cover more area
under bio-fertilizer application. The results are in field showing difference between plots
where bio-fertilizer applied and plots without application. Being suffered from drought
situation also the crop stand is better for the plots where its applied.
Intercropping:
Sugarcane crop plays vital role in socio-economic progress and status of the farmers.
Sugarcane farmers keep facing natural disasters during the cropping period,
intercropping in sugarcane is the best solution to get additional assured income.
Intercropping of sugarcane with high value and remunerative crops such as ginger,
vegetables, potato, oilseeds and pulses offer great scope for growing as intercrops and
in further providing additional income and reducing risks in the long duration crop of
sugarcane as well as in improving land use efficiency. The proper sequence of cropping
such as sugarcane and leguminous crops as a component of system approach to nutrient
management, increases productivity of sugarcane. Intercropping reduces weed growth
and give extra income to farmers. Intercrop can be taken in three sugarcane planting
season i.e. Adsali, Pre-season and season.
Therefore, management of sugarcane with intercrop is very important. The NSL
supports/promotes intercropping in sugarcane cultivation with crops like green gram,
black gram, groundnut, French bean, chickpea, water melon etc. In addition to effective
utilization of land, this practice will reduce the weed growth up to 60% and give extra
income to farmers. In NSL Sugars mill area farmers used to take two-three intercrop along
with sugarcane, which gives them cash flow to manage their family need when main
sugarcane crop is standing in field.
Trash Mulching:
Trash mulching (making 10 cm thick cover from removing spread in inter-row spaces) is
a most practical and cost-effective way to increase the effectiveness of irrigation by
reducing evaporation loss from the soil surface. It maintains the soil moisture at a higher
level for a relatively longer time compared to uncovered soil surface and controls
emergence of weeds that compete with the cane crop and reduces shoot borer incidence.
The trash on decomposition releases nutrients which improves the fertility of soil. The
trash mulching practice requires some extra labor during cultivation but no capital
investment for the farmer. Trash mulching is important in sugarcane cultivation as it helps
in checking the weeds and providing needed moisture.NSL support for trash mulching
through incentive scheme.
In order to sustain crop in water stress condition trash mulching activity also being focused
in factory command area. Mill has purchased trash shredder and providing to farmers on
custom hiring basis. Trash mulching will be followed by spraying of bio composting and
decomposing agent to accelerate the process of decomposing. This will help to control
growth of weed, reduction of evaporation and improvement in soil carbon/organic content
and improve soil water retention capacity. Trash shredding before plantation and in
between ratoons improves germination rates and soil structure. Trash mulching is
reported to save as much as 23% irrigation water19 and improve sugarcane yields by up
to 30%
Soil Testing:
Soil testing is one of the most important management practices for crop production. It is
certain to be listed among the best management practices recommended by industry and
university agronomists, consultants, and farm managers for the benefit of their farmer
clients. NSL believes that the crop productivity not only depends on the high yielding
variety, chemical fertilizer application but also on soil properties. NSL Sugars Ltd. has
established soil testing laboratories at factory site to test soil. Soil is being analyzed for
micro as well as macro elements. Farmers are guided for method of sampling, time of
sampling and place of sampling. On the basis of soil test report fertilizer recommendations
are given according to targeted yield approach concept.
Factory had appointed highly qualified and experienced staff for the soil testing laboratory
at its four sugar unit located at Gulbarga, Mandya and Bellary district of Karnataka state
and Mehaboobnagar district of Telangana state.
Farmer benefits of Soil Testing:
A management tool for making scientifically sound management decisions about
their soil fertility program.
Improved yields and profitability from providing needed nutrients for the crop.
Increased uniformity of nutrient availability across a field, optimizing response to
other management inputs.
More uniform crop growth, which makes individual plants more competitive with
weeds and simplifies other management practices such as cultivation, spraying,
etc.
More uniform plant maturity within a field, simplifying crop harvesting and drying
and improving market quality.
Intensive sampling and variable-rate fertilizer application allow fine-tuning of
fertilizer applications within a field.
