Ethrel assisted sett activation combined with nutrient management: Growth behaviour and quality outcomes in single-node sugarcane
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/jefa.2026.21.1.28Keywords:
Ethrel soaking, integrated nutrient management, leaf area index, single-node sugarcane.Abstract
The present study evaluated the effects of ethrel based sett soaking and integrated nutrient management (INM) on leaf area index (LAI), growth parameters, yield components, and juice quality of single-node planted sugarcane. The experiment was conducted at the Sugarcane Research Farm, Samastipur, during the spring season of 2021–2022 using a factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with 20 treatment combinations, each replicated three times, totaling 60 plots. Sett soaking treatments included S1 – without soaking, S2 – overnight soaking in water, S3 – overnight soaking in 50 ppm ethrel, and S4 – overnight soaking in 100 ppm ethrel, while INM comprised N1 – RDF, N2 – RDF + VC @ 5 t ha-1, N3 – RDF + VC @ 10 t ha-1, N4 – RDF + VC @ 5 t ha-1 + PSB + azotobacter, and N5 – RDF + VC @ 10 t ha-1 + PSB + azotobacter. Significant variation in LAI was observed due to both factors, with the highest LAI recorded under 50 ppm ethrel soaking (2.05, 3.77, and 3.25 at 120, 180, and 240 DAP, respectively), slightly differing from the 3.13 value at 240 DAP reported in the results, and remaining statistically comparable to 100 ppm ethrel. Among nutrient treatments, N5 consistently showed the highest LAI across all growth stages, comparable with N4 and N3, indicated the positive influence of organic–microbial nutrient integration on early canopy development. Plant height, cane diameter, single cane weight, and juice quality parameters (brix, pol, purity, juice recovery, CCS) were not significantly influenced by sett soaking or INM, although numerically higher values were observed under 50 and 100 ppm ethrel and N5. Interaction effects between sett soaking and INM were non-significant for all traits. The findings suggested that ethrel based sett soaking and integrated nutrient management could effectively enhance LAI in single bud sugarcane planting without altering structural growth or juice quality, providing valuable guidance for optimizing early-stage crop management practices.
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