Utilization of Venasses Powder from Sugar Factory as Sources of Potassium Fertilizer on Growth and Yield of Sugarcane

Abstract

This study investigated the utilization of by-product from sugar factory (venasses powder, VP) as a source of potassium fertilizer on growth and yield of sugarcane (var. Kamphaeng Saen 01-4-29) planted in Kamphaeng Saen soil series. The experimental design was arranged in Randomized Complete Block (RCB) with 3 replications and consisted of 7 treatments. The results showed that all treatments that applied chemical fertilizer (CF) based on soil chemical analysis or VP in combination with CF insignificantly increased in plant height, leaf greenness (SPAD unit), fresh yield, weight/stalk, stalk height, stalk diameter, CCS, sugar yield and concentrations of N and P in stalk which were markedly higher than those of control treatment. Comparatively, sugarcane in control plot produced the lowest plant height, leaf greenness (SPAD unit), fresh yield, weight/stalk, stalk height, stalk diameter, CCS, sugar yield and concentration of N and P in stalk. Furthermore, the application of VP of 96.23 kg/rai in combination with CF grade 21-0-0 and 0-46-0 of 46.86 and 6.26 kg/rai, respectively (VP_{12% K2O}, T₇) provided the highest concentration of K in stalk which was not significantly different from the application of CF based on soil chemical analysis and adding 100% of the K fertilizer from the original rate (CF_DOA+K_100%, T₄)