Effects of Vermicompost on Sugarcane Productivity and Soil Carbon Accumulation

Background and Objective: The application of vermicompost in sugarcane cultivation leads to an increase sugarcane yield by enhancing soil nutrient content, cane growth and boosting soil carbon accumulation as well as through enrichment of soil fertility. This study investigates the impact of vermicompost application on sugarcane productivity and soil carbon accumulation. It aims to determine how vermicompost influences crop yield, soil fertility, and carbon sequestration, providing insights into sustainable sugarcane cultivation practices. Materials and Methods: The field experiment was conducted on over four cropping seasons. The soil of the area was silt loam and moderate fertility. The experiment followed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with eight treatments combining different rates of vermicompost and chemical fertilizers. Results revealed that the highest sugarcane yield of 143.40 t/ha was found in T₄ treatment where vermicompost @ 5 t/ha along with N₁₈₀P₄₀K₉₀S₄₅Mg₁₀Zn₄ kg/ha was applied. Soil organic carbon and carbon stock were also substantially improved by vermicompost application, with the highest carbon accumulation of 1.82 t/ha was observed in T₄. Results: The trends of increased yield in sugarcane of 69%>62%>45%>34% in the cropping year of 2020-2021, 2019-2020, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, respectively where the integrated use of vermicompost at 5 t/ha along with inorganic fertilizers of N₁₈₀P₄₀K₉₀S₄₅Mg₁₀Zn₄ kg/ha. In 2022-2023 cropping season, the highest level of carbon storing or accumulation of 95% was occurred where incorporation of vermicompost at 5 t/ha along with in organic fertilizers of N₁₈₀P₄₀K₉₀S₄₅Mg₁₀Zn₄ kg/ha were applied. Conclusion: The application of vermicompost with the recommended dose of fertilizer significantly increased tiller number, millable cane count, and overall yield across all cropping years but sugar quality measured by Brix percentage did not show any significant variation among treatments. Overall, the use of vermicompost in combination with chemical fertilizers enhanced sugarcane productivity that contributed to soil carbon accumulation, supporting its role in sustainable crop production.