Investigating the Effect of Value Added Product from Sugar Industry as a Potassium Source on Growth and Yield Attributes of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

India is the major producer and consumer of sugar in the world. Molasses based distillery along with their product (alcohol) generate wastewater called as spent wash. It is acidic nature characterized by high BOD, COD value. The Value Added Product from sugar industry is generated by incineration of spent wash results in ash powder which is found to be rich in potassium. Potassium protects the plant from both biotic and abiotic stress like diseases, pests, drought, salinity, water logging, frost, etc. Consequently, a study was conducted to compare the effect of applying Value Added Product (VAP) as a potassic source on maize hybrid COHM(8) with that grown on Muriate of Potash (MOP) as a fertilizer source using a Randomized Complete Block recommendation) -K through VAP (T2), 75% STCR-K through VAP (T3), 100% STCR-K through VAP (T4), 125% STCR-K through VAP (T5), 50% STCR-K through VAP + 50% STCR-K through inorganic fertilizers (T6) (MOP) and 100% STCR-K through inorganic fertilizer (MOP) (T7). The results showed that, 125% STCR-K as VAP produced better growth and yield characteristic, it was similar with 100 percent STCR-K as VAP and followed by 75 percent STCR-K as VAP when compared to control (T₁). It is concluded that application of VAP from distillery spent wash (DSW) can be used as a substitute for inorganic potash fertilizer in maize crop cultivation to get higher yield and sustain soil health.