94 AGRICULTURAL SECTION

Mr. K. L. Khanna presented the following paper

Paper

"" STUDIES ON THE MANURIAL RESPONSES OF SUGARCANE ON CULTIVATORS' FIELDS 1-N BIHAR

I<. L. KHANNA, R. C. ACHARYA AND

K. P. SINGH \

Central Sugarcane Research Station, Pusa, India.

INTRODUCTION.

Lying between latitudes 22" and 27" N and longitudes 834" and 87"E, the State of Bihar consists of two distinct physiographic units, viz., the Indo-Gail- getic alluvial plains extending over North and South Bihar and the table lands

PLATE I

RIVER . .. . r=

of Chotanagpur with an average altitude of 2,000 ft. above sea level. Bihar proper is dissected into two nearly equal halves by the river Ganges. The State has a typically monsoon character. An intensely dry summe'r during the months of April, May and June is followed by the monsoon which generally

K.L. KHANNA, R.C. ACHARYA, K.P. SINGH

PLATE I1

MAP OF BlHAR

45 TO 50 r r

of the total annual precipitation. Zonal ktiiations are, however, considerable, the Himalyan Valley and the northern half of Bihar enjoying a comparatively higher annual rainfall (about 30 inches higher than in the Southern portion). Lower rainfall and humidity prevail in the drief regions of the Sone Valley. In the highlands of Chotanagpur precipitation is considerably higher (Plate 11). Cold weather sets in about the beginning of November and minimum temperatures go down to 45°F or even below, the lowest temperatures being obtained between mid-December and end Januaty. Slight showers are common during winter but frosts are rare. As temperature falls, there is considerable condensatioll of atmospheric water vapour as dew and humidity is lowered. With the onset of summer in Maroh a dry and hot season prevails which, assisted by the strong dry westerly winds of April, dries up the soil to a considerable depth.

Six zonal soil divisions have been recognised in the State, each occupying . -

on of North Bihar,

4

96 AGRICULTURAL SECTION

extending from the Sumeshwar valley at the foot of the Himalayas in the North West to the extreme South East and comprising the northern halves of Champa- ran, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga districts as also the entire district of Purnea. These soils vary from grey brow11 to dark brown in colour at the surface and show good physical condition, open and porous structure and satisfactory drainage. Profiles are characterised by leaching of soluble salts, mobility of phosphates and calcium and mechanical translocation of finer particles. Organic matter status as also available N and P contents are low, C/N ratio being slightly below nor- mal. Reaction is on the alltaline side of neutrality but towards the extreme north, a tendency to development and intensification of acidity is apparent as a result of heavy leaching of bases.

PLATE I11

1C.L KHANNA, R.C. ACHARYLi, K.P. SINGH 97

\Torth .mpa- irnea. show nage. s and <tatus

nor- ~orth, 11t of

e being high and stable. There is little evidence of mechanidal ation. Structure is open and porous with very satisfactory drainage condi- . Soil reactio~i is highly alkaline (8.2-8.4). As a result of this and also on

tter status being low and nitrogen reserve poor. In the more arid regions of istrict of Saran, intra-zonal soils, locally known as Usur or uiiproductive soils. I

portions enabling the (alkali cation) to affect tlie exchange complex. This is cated by a deflocculated condition of the soil and high pH values of 8.8-9.2 hove. C/N ratio is wide and nitrogen reserve extremely low. (3) Heavy clay: Heavy clay soils occur to tlie south of the Ganges and

er the districts of Patna, Gaya and a part of Shahabad. The soils are dark at the surface with profiles characterised by a high content of clay distributed st evenly through the entire depth. Leaching of soluble salts is extremely ~cted, mechanical translocatioii of materials being almost entirely absent. ical condition i s far from good, drainage characters being highly unsatisfac- . C/N ratio is wide, due chiefly to a low nitrogen level. Available phosphates comparatively higher. Soil reaction is on the alkaline side ofaeutrality.

(4) §one alluviamnn: This division occurs in tlie valley of the Sone in Shah- d and part of Patna district in South Bihar. Three types are found, viz.,

sandy clay and clay, representing admixture in varying proportions of the e sandy deposits of the Solie and lieavy Gangetic alluvium. No evidence chanical illuviation has been obtained although leaching of soluble salis arent. Distinctive of these soils in, a tendency to mobilisatioii of sesqui- with organic carbon, specially in the lighter sections-a process analogous solisation. Soil reaction, however, is alkaline. C/N ratios progressively down from iiorlllal in sandy to very ,low in clay type. Available phos- re medium and nitrogen reserve low.

Brown soils: These occur inostly in the portions of Bliagalpur and hyr districts lying to the south of the Ganges and vary in colour from brown dish brown, with profiles exhibiting abundant brown mottliligs and patches.

se soils have developzd under conditions of intense silicate weathering with ted leaching. Aluminium is also mobile and the residual soil is rich in of iron. Organic carbon is stable in the surface Iiorizon and mechanical cation of finer parlicles absent. C/N ratio is variable, beinz generally low side. Nitrogcn reserve is poor and available phosphates very low.

6) Red lolams : Red loan~s occur in the whole of Chotanagpur division. climate here is more humid owing to heavier rainfall and the close cover of a

ous forest. During spring, tlie trees shed leaves and in the sumliier that s, there is an intense evaporation and the thin soil layer is dried out corn- . This probably accounts for the frequent occurrence of concretionary t~ of varying sizes. The base status is very low', brit the reaction a$

98 AGRICULTURAL SECTION

measured by pH values is not so acidic as might be expected, a circumstance attributable to the sesquioxide character of the clay complex. Theye is no marked alluviation and the structure is generally friable and granular. Cqrbon~Nitrogen ratio is narrow, available nitrogen and phosphates being very low. Response to nitrogen is positive and high. Added phosphates undergo irreversible Axa- tion as highly insoluble form and aluminium phosphates.

The conditions of cane growing are unique in North Bihar in that the crop is produced without irrigation. It has to depend for its germination on the mois- ture conserved from the previous monsoon and tide over the hot weather with that moisture till the monsoon breaks. As the cane grows mainly during the monsoon period of 3 months, the growth consequently depends upon the vagaries of the rainfall, a late monsoon particularly depressing the yield, Floods often result from excessive precipitation in the sub-montane ares. and a poor crop follows. The area north of the river is entirely a white sugar tract possessing over three fifths of the total area under cane in the State and also 25 out of a total of 29 factories.

It will be clear from the foregoing paragraphs that the sugarcane crop in the State is raised under widely varying conditions of soil and climate, as represented by the different zones. In order to render real and effective service to the culti- vating community in the shape of definite and dependable advice as regards variety to plant, kind and quantity of manure to add, the most profitable schedule of irri- gation to follow and some other aspects, it is therefore of the utmost importance to carry out extensive experiments on cultivators' fields widely scattered over the State. The need for this has been widely appreciated in recent years (Yates, Finney and Panse, 1952), the inadequacy of resslts obtained in a few experimental farms as a sound basis for advising cultivators having been strongly felt in this connection. These farms can hardly be taken as representative of the soil cnndi- tions obtaining in innumerable cultivato;s9 fields in a particular tract. Further, they have attained a definitely higher level of fertility as A result of years of sound manuring and management in contfast to the exhausted condition of soils in cul- tivators' field which have been drained of their nutrient reserves with hardly any

aspects as quality attributes of cane and incidence of pests and diseases in relati to such treatments.

The work reported here relates to manurial experiments of this natur carried out over a period of five years. The experiments were laid out on

responses to manurial schedules found most effective a t the Research Station a in a large number of co-ordinated experimental centres attached thereto. Bihar, similar experiments on crops other than sugarcane have been reporte by Mukherjee (1952).

100 AGRICULTURAL SECTION

ammonium sulphate being added to get the required NP levels). (ii) Inorganic series (Ammonium sulphate + single superphosphate).

In 1951-52, two series of inorganic fertilisers were under examination, viz., (i) Ammophos and (ii) Ammonium sulphate + single superphosphate.

In the year 1953-54, only one series was involved, viz., a "mixed series" wherein N was applied half in inorganic and half in organic form as a mixture of Ammonium sulphate and oilcalte, the balance of P20, (over that provided by oil- calte) being added as single superphosphate. The total numbers of experiments in the four successive years were 418, 790, 523 and 240 respectively.

, (2) Year 1954-55 : In this year, the survey method of experimentation (Panse and Sulthatme,

1953) was adopted. Two series were involved, viz., Series I which consisted of NP trials laid out in areas which had &shown no response to potash and Series TI, consisting of N P K trials laid out in areas where responses to potash had been indicated in trials at coordinated experimental centres (confined to the Sub-Himalayan regions of north west Champaran where high rainfall had brought about heavy leaching of bases). The total numbers of experiments in the two series were 445 and 23 and they comprised 8 groups'with 4 treatments and 4 groups with 6 treatments respectively. A one acre plot was divided into 4 equal portions in Series I to 6 equal portions in Series IT, each portion receiving one of the treatments which were as follows:-

SERIES I

(5) 0

(1) 0 NIP1 NlPlK1 NIP~K, N ~ P ~ K ~ (2) 0 NIPl NIPIK, NlPlK2 N2PlI<l (3) 0 NIP, NlP,Kl NlP2K2 NZP2Kl (4) 0 N,Pl hT2PlKl N2P,K, N2P,R1

These designs were prepared in consultation with Dr. Finney, F.A.O. Statistician. The doses of NPK were as follows :

North Bihar South Bihar

N4 : 60N N, : 120N P, : 30P20, P, : 60P20,

K.L. KHANNA, R . C. ACHARYA, K.P. SINGH 101

ate, a treatment involving potash alone was not included in the experiments. he rainfall factor which dominates production almost entirely in North

, varied considerably during the five years (Table I).

TABLE I

DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL (IN INCHES) DURING THE FIVE YEARS OF EXPERIMENTATION

Total June- Total June- Total June- Total June- Total June-

45.56 39.11 48.65 46.70 ' 57.94 50.64 62.12 57.60 55.27 47.07 40.64 36.75 28.75 25.87 43.43 40.13 71.06 67.56 32.40 29.48

ffarpur 34.52 30.86 47.79 46.60 51.16 46.14 64.10 59.29 44.82 39.61

PRESENTATION OF DATA

(1) Years 1950-51 to 1953-54 : (a) These experiments were carried out

wever, the extra response due to the higher dose as compared to the lower dose

TABLE I1

MEAN YIELDS IN TONS PER ACRE IN OILCAKE SERIES - No. of expts. Do DI Dz L.S.D. at 5 % ---C--

1950-51 16 ' 24.2 , 32.7 39.2 7.Q5

102 AGRICULTURAL SECTION

TABLE I1 (Contd.)

No. of expts. Do D l D2 L.S.D. at 5%

1950-51 I

Darbhanga 35 . 13.2 19.0 21.5 1.55 North Bihar 75 16.4 22.0 25.4 2.68 South Bihat 9 18.7 22.5 20.7 1.91

1952-53 Saran 23 22.5 24.5 25.0 1.80 Champaran 26 17.6 21.8 22.1 1.36 Darbhanga 2 10.8 15.3 19.4 - North Bihar 5 1 19.5 22.8 23.3 1.58

(b) Ammophos series : These experiments, 215 in number, were carried out during 1951-52. Here also, yield responses to manuring were significant in almost all cases. An examination of Table I11 depicting ,results of pooled

. analyses will show that responses to manuring are always significant. As between the two doses, systematically higher yields are afforded by the higher dose although the differences are significant only in respect of Saran, Muzaffarpur and North Bihar as a whole. On the contrary, the lower dose d w s better in South Bihar, the contraction against the higher dose being however non-significant.

I TABLE 111

MEAN YIELDS IN TONS PER ACRE IN AMMOPHOS SERIES , 1951-52

(c) Ammonium sulphate series : These experiments were conducted during 1950-51, 1951-52 and 1952-53, the numbers being 241, 324 and 422 respectively. As in the other series yield increases due to manuring were significant in almost all cases. The results of pooled analyses (Table IV) would show that responses to manuring were always significant, During 1950-51, the higher dose did uniformly better than the lower dose in North Bihar but the reverse held good for South Bihar. The differences were however significant only in so far as Saran and Muzaffarpur were concerned. In 1951-52, the higher dose did better in all areas other 'than the district of Saran where the reverse held good. The differences were, however, significant in respe~t of Muzaffarpur district only. Similarly during the year 1952-53 higher yields were obtained in all areas except Champaran district where the lower dose did significantly better. However, the better performance under higher dose fell short of the level of significance in South Bihar.

K.L. KHANNA, R.C. ACHARYA, K.P. SINGH

TABLE IV

MEAN YIELDS IN TONS PER ACRE IN AMMONIUM

1951-52

1952-53

in South Bihar but the difference was nonesignificant in the former case. In

TABLE V

MEAN YIELDS IN TONS PER ACRE IN MIXED SERIES 1953-54

K.L. KHANNA, R.C. ACHARYA, K.P. SINGH 105

Ammon sulph t o i l

Dl D2 Mean

156 176 166 162 248 205 87 137 112 153 145 i49 p.calcareous 160 101 131 179 116 148 71 63 67 141 71 106

33 19 26 18 40 29 Uneconomic - 13 76 45 102 177 140

A scrutiny of the figures in respect of the net profits due to manuring under the different series will bring out the outstanding performance of Ammophos in all districts and in each of the soil divisions.

Thus, excepting the district of Darbhanga where it is a close second to Ammo- nitlm sulphate, Ammophos affords by far the largest mean profit per acre, ranging from Rs. 309 in Muzaffarpur to Rs. 190 in Champaran. Similarly, with the exception of heavy clay soil division where profits were generally low (the highest gain of Rs. 45 per acre being obtained in the "mixed" series), Ammophos was always outstanding and gave profits varying from Rs. 248 in calcareous soil (Sone alluvium proving a close second with Rs. 239 per acre) to Rs. 116 in non-calcareous soil. Profits in the oilcake serles were generally poor, co~~~paratjvely sat~sfactory results being obtained in the districts of Saran (Rs. 184) and Da~bhanga (Rs. 107) and in the calcareous soil division (Rs. 112) as alp0 under the lower dose in Sone alluvium soil (Rs. 104). Oilcake manuring in both doses proved uneconomical in heavy clay soil and the same held good in respect of the higher dose in Sone alluvium soil and in South Bihar considered as a whole. Oilcake in combination with Ammonium Sulphate was generally com- parable to Ammonium Sulphate used as the' sole source of Nitrogen and both these series afforded profits generally lying intermediate between those under Ammophos on the one hand and oilcake manuring on the other. (2) Year 1954-55.

(i) Series I : NP trials:- Pooled averages in respect of yield increments over control (no manure) accruing from different treatments have been worked out with reference to the districts and soil divisions of the State (Table VIII: Plate VT). It will be seen that responses are highest for the N,P, treatment except in Muzaffarpur district where N,P, also shows the same order of performance. The increase in yield ranges from 7.7 tons in Muzaffarpur to 10.8 tons in Champaran so far as North Bfhar is concerned while for the South Bihar districts the increases vary between 11.9 tons in Patna and 30.8 tons in Shahabad. Coilsidering responses with reference to the soil divisions, N,P, is uniformly most effective treatment, the increments in yield being 10.3, 9.4, 16.8 and 18.2 tons for the calcareous, non-calcareous, heavy clay and Sone alluvium soils respectively. Combinations of N and P will b'e seen to produce superior results over single

K.L. KHANNA, ROC, ACHARYA, K.P. SINGH

trient applications, the advantage resulting from combination being greater at

TABLE VTII

(ii) Soil divisions

~a lcakous Non-calcareous Heavy clay Sone alluvium

--

MEAN RESPONSES TO N AND P

Mean responses to N and P w~ith reference to the different districts and soil ons have been depicted in Tables IX and X. It will be seen that the responses

ES- 4561

(saws d~ )

K.L. KHANNA, R.C. ACHARYA, K.P. SINGH 109

Coming to phosphate responses, the best results are again obtained in

r, Patna and Gaya. Considered with reference to soil divisions, responses to

ost pronounced in calcareous soil.

TABLE IX

Mean

2.7 5.6 4.1 2.9 ' 4.8 3.9 1.4 3.4 2.4 2.4 5.6 4.0 2.7 5.2 4.0 5.8 7.1 6.5 4.4 9.4 8.8

11.4 18.5 15.0 7.1 10.3 8.9

2.4 5.6 4.0 3.3 4.5 4.0 4.6 9.6 7.1 8.8 10.3 9.6

AGRICULTURAL SECTION

TABLE X

MEAN RESPONSES TO PYOSPHATE (TONSIACRE) DURING 1954-55

PI p2 Mean

(i) District

Champaran Saran Muzaffarpur

' Darbhanga North Bihar Patnn Gaya Shahabad South Bihar

(ii) Soil division

Calcareous Non-calcareous

Sone alluyium

(b) Series I1 : NPK trial8 (N. W. Champaran).-The responses to different treatments in this series have been shown in Table XI. In Table XII, responses

TABLE XI

RESPONSES TO DIFFERENT TREATMENTS IN THE NPK SERIES (TONSIACRE) DURING 1954-55

Increase over control Increase over conttol Treatment

to potash have been represented as increments in yield resulting from the two levels of K application over three different levels in respect of NP, viz., NIP,,

K.L. KHANNA. R.C. ACHARYA, K.P. SINGH 111

~ ~ p , and N,Pl (Plate VIT). It will be seen that for the lower level of K, increments

PLATE VII

RESPONSES TO POTQSH , ( NORTH WEST CHAM~RCIN )

NOT[:- TkE UNSHRDED PORTIONS R~PRESLNT &CREASES DUE@ IYOVFPRMB~C~K#PLE~~~S

are of the same order for NIP, and N,P, (2.2 and 2.1 tons), being substantially lower under NIP, (1.1 tons). For the higher level of K, on the other hand, response was highest under NIP, (4.5 tons), being of a lower order under NIPl and N,Pl (2.8 and 2.5 tons).

TABLE XI1

RESPONSES TO POTASH OVER DIFFERENT COMBINPATIONS OF N AND P DURING 1954-55

Increments over Tonslacre

K1 K2 NIPI 1.1 2.8 N1Pz 2.2 4.5 NzPl 2.1 2.5

Mean 1.8 3.2 \

112 AGRICULTURAL SECTION ,,

ECONOMICS OF MANURING FOR DIFFERENT TREATMENTS I

K.L. KHANNA, R.C. ACHARYA, K.P. SlNGH 113

TABLE XI11

PROFITS DUE %TO MANURING IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS

158 221 246 216 172 258 341 3 52

TABLE XIV

PROFITS DUE TO MANURING IN DIFFERENT SOIL DIVISIONS IN RUPEES PER ACRE

(1954-55)

TABLE XV %

PROFITS IN RUPEES PER ACRE DUE TO POTASSIC APPLICATION (1954-55)

Increase in profit over K1 Kz

Mean 43 73

K.L. KHANNA, R.C. ACHARYA, K . P . SINGH

responsive to manuring (7.7 tons with a net profit of Rs. 246 per acre) ed in order by heavy clay (5.3 tons and Rs. 157), non-calcareous soil (4.7 nd Rs. 134) and calcareous soil (4.2 tons and Rs. 117)

PLATE IX

MFAN ~ESPONSESTONITROGEN &PHOSPHATE (OPTIMALOR~SSINGS INDICATED BY ARROWS K~-OU06iK~-0'010)

1954 -35

NITROGLN IN POUNDS PER AUlL

PHOSPHATF IN WUNDS PEP ACRE

he optimal dressings of N and P,O, (both separately and in combillation) out as follows for the different soil divisions.

divison Optimal N (Ibs./acre) Optimal Pz05 (Ibs lacre) Optimal NSP205 (lbs.!acre)

81.9 59.2N + 97.5 PgOj 75.3 51.9N + 93.1 P205 97.5 68.ON + 102.8 P2O5

111.2 94.7N f 118.9 PzO5

DISCUSSION

se studies bring out in bold relief the high responses accruing &-I culti- elds as a result of manure and fertilizer application and leaves no doubt

AGRICULTURAL SECTION

as to the supreme importance of manuring vis-a-vis realisation of objects in respect of crop yields. It will be realised, therefore, that any efforts towards formulation of the right manurial schedule for each sugarcane growing Brea are bound to result in information of vital importance to the industry. As the soil survey scheme of factory areas progresses, the need to determine immediately the kind

PLATE X

STANDARD RESPONSBTO NITROGEN k PHOSPHATE~SPROFITPER ACRE STANDARD DRESSING 20N+25P205 Acnc ( ~ ~ = 0 ' 0 0 6 , Kp=0'010)

RESPONSE

PROFIT

and quantity of manures and fertilizers in different soil types isolated also becomes urgent. The completion of factory area tube-well scheme and of other similar projects also envisages rapid development of cane in concentrated blocks round such irrigation points and there is evident need to determine under cultivators' conditions variations in irrigation and manuring schedules worked out at the different research stations. For this purpose, a large number of experiments need to be laid out on cultivators' fields every year and besides yield responses, various other aspects being gradually incorporated, such as collectioi~ of profile soil samples from each experimental plot with a view to correlating crop responses to soil characters ; study of the interaction of irrigation and manuring at different levels; juice quality variations in relation to treatments; residual effects on succeeding grain crops; pest and disease incidence at harvest with reference to treatments applied and so on. There is little doubt that such an endeavour will go a long way towards placing the Industry on a-sound footing.

--

K.L. KHANNA, R.C. ACHARYA, K.P. SlNGH 117 I SUMMARY

1. The results of nlanurial experiments on sugarcane conducted on fields widely scattered over the entire sugar belt of Bihar have been

eported in the paper. 2. The experiments conducted during the first four years comprised four

rate series, viz., (i) Ammophos (ii) Ammonium sulphate with single super- sphate (iii) oilcake with single superphosphate and (iv) oilcake and ammonium

@ate with single superphosphate, a higher and a lower level of manuring eing examined against no manure as contro!. In North Bihar, the manurial

levels were 40Nf50 P,05 and 60 N+75P205, those for South ~ i h a r being 60N 50P205 and 80 N+60P2O,.

3. In the fifth year, the survey method of experimentation was adopted. series were involved, viz., (i) N P trials'in areas showing no response to K

consisted of 8 groups with 4 treatments (single and combinational doses N,, P,, P, against no msnure as control) and (ii) NPK trials in the high

fall areas of N. W: Champaran where potash response had been observed, series comprising 4 groups with 6 treatments (single doses of N,, N,, P,, P, combinational dosss of N,, N,, P,, P,, K,, K, against no manure as control). ,, PI, P,, Kl, K2 stood for 40N, 80N, 50P205, 100 P205, 80 K20, 160 K 2 0 rth Bihar while in South Bihar N,, N, represented 60 N and 120 N, PI,

ood for 30 P,05 and 60 P,05, no potash treatments being examined in this n. In all cases, the combination was one of ammonium sulphate and oil- (contributing respectively one-third and two-thirds of the Nitrogen) with

le superphosphate. 4. In practically a11 trials, significant yield responses to manuring were

ined. In the first four yearsof experimentation the higher dose on an average, ,a higher outturn per acre in North Bihar as compared to the lower dose but ifferences were generally non-significant. - In South Bihar, on the other , the reverse trend was indicated. In the fifth year, however, high doses anuring proved very effective in increasing acre-yields, a dosage of 80 N :

P,05 doing best in North Bihar with the 120 N : 60 P,05 combination excelling outh Bihar. So far as the NPK trials in N.W. Champaran were concerned,

s marked responses to potash application were recorded, the effect being most

1: ounced with 160 Ibs. K 2 0 over a combination of 40 lbs. N and 100 lbs.

AGRICULTURAL SECTION

7. The fifth year's data show high profits from manuring, the figures varying between Rs. 99 per acre in calcareous soil under 40 N : 50 P,O, dose to Rs. 451 per acre in Sone alluvium resulting from a 120 N: 60 P,O, dose. Likewise, profits due to potash application in N. W. Champaran vary from Rs. 17 per acre (80 Ibs. K,O over 40 Ibs. N and 50 lbs. P,O,), to Rs. 117 per acre (160 lbs. K,O over 40 Ibs. N and 100 lbs. P,O,).

8. On the basis of the fifth year's trials, optimal combinationaldressings of N and P,O, have been worked out for the different soil divisions.

These are: Non-calcareous 59.2 N + 97.5 P,O, Calcareous 51.9 N + 93.1 P,O,

68.0 N + 102.8 P,O, Sone alluvium 94.7 N + 118.9 P,O,.,

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are indebted to the Government of Bihar and the Indian Central Sugarcane Committee for jointly financing the Sugarcane Research Schkme in Bihgr under which the present work was carried out. Their thanks are also due to Dr. ,A.S. Chakravarti for going through the manuscript and making useful suggCstions. They also wish to place on record their appreciation of the co-opera- tion extended by the sugar factories and the field work done by Cane Develop-

I

, ment staff in different areas.

REFERENCES I

1. Yates, F., Finney, D. J. and 1952 I .C .A .R .Res .Ser . No. 1. Panse, V.G.

2. Mukherjee, H. N. 1952' Proc. Bihar Acad. Agric. Sci., 1 , 58, 94.

3. Panse, V.G. and Sukhatme, P.V. /953 Jour. Ind. Soc. Agric. Stat., 5 , 145-160.

4 . Growther, E.M. and Yates, F. 1941 Emp. Jour. Expt. Agric. 9 , 77-97.

5 . Carey, T. M. and Robinson , P. 1953 Ibid. 21, 99-115.

DISCUSSION

Dr. Arakeri asked if the soils on which these experiments were being conducted had been analysed. Mr. Khanna replied that the experiment had been scattered over different soil divisions whose characteristics had been fully studied in the soil survey conducted earlier.