title: Effect of sugar industry spentwash (diluted) on the characteristics of soil and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) growth in the subtropical environment of Sindh, Pakistan.
abstract: Spentwash is a rich source of organic matter and essential plant nutrients in addition to excess salts. Sugar mills in Pakistan discharge about 3.48 million tons of spentwash annually, with no proper procedures for its disposal or utilization. To test the effect of diluted spentwash on soil and the soil's ability to support plant growth, sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) variety CPF-237 was planted. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design involving factorial combination of four concentrations of each spentwash (0, 10, 20, and 30%) and mineral fertilizers (0, 1/3, 2/3, and the full recommended rate of NP). The 10% spentwash plus 2/3 mineral fertilizer treatment substituted 33% each of N and P and 100% of K, saving mineral fertilizer cost (Rs. 48600 ∼ US$458) in addition to 29.54% increase in yield over full NP fertilizer. The same treatment also improved the soil organic matter (65%), N (20%), P (25%), and K (230%) over full NP treatment alone. An increase in the salt content of the soil was detected within the prescribed limits, with the exception of HCO3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Sindh, 70060, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ghulam Muhiyuddin
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Kaloi
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Sindh, 70060, Pakistan. nisamemon@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: Mehrunisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Sindh, 70060, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Kazi Suleman
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.affiliation: National Sugar and Tropical Horticulture Research Institute, Pakistan Agriculture Research Council, Thatta, Sindh, 73130, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sagheer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Sciences and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Sindh, 70060, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Saghir Ahmed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.affiliation: Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2E3, Canada.
authors.forename: Ghulam Murtaza
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Jamro
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005308:Fertilizers; D008903:Minerals; D010154:Pakistan; D031786:Saccharum / Q000254:growth & development*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D008903:Minerals; D012987:Soil
keywords: Mineral fertilizer; Soil characteristics; Spentwash; Sugarcane