Environmental benefits of an alternative practice for sugarcane cultivation using Gracilaria-based seaweed biostimulant.

Autor: Singh, Ishwar, Solomon, Sushil, Gopalakrishnan, Vijay Anand K., Ghosh, Arup
Zdroj: Sugar Tech; Apr2023, Vol. 25 Issue 2, p440-452, 13p
Abstrakt: Modelling of sugarcane for greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation has evoked considerable interest as it would provide a scope for improving process efficiencies and reduce the burden on associated impacts. Alternative practices are essential for enhancing cane production with limited environmental trade-offs. The aim of this study was to empirically prove that the inclusion of Gracilaria-based seaweed extract (GSWE) as biostimulant in cane production as an alternate practice is environmentally friendlier. A field experiment was carried out at Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, India, for two consecutive years in a randomized block design to evaluate the inclusion of GSWE in the agricultural practice for cane production. Environmental benefits of using GSWE were deduced and normalized with yield following modelling. The results showed inclusion of GSWE at ≥ 5% concentration in the agricultural practice enhanced cane yield by at least 8% in plant and ratoon crops leading to higher returns. This was primarily driven by increase in cane length, cane weight and the number of millable canes. Notably, the N use efficiency of the crop was enhanced. Modelling revealed that 5% GSWE application resulted in favourable benefits in 16 categories out of a total of 18 categories measured. GHG mitigation was prominent as evidenced by a gain in climate change impact category which was 2.17 kg CO2 equivalents (eq) for Mg of cane production when GSWE was applied at 5%. The novelty of the present study was to quantify the environmental benefits of the use of Gracilaria-based seaweed biostimulant in the agricultural practice for cane cultivation. The biostimulant can enhance yield by increasing the N use efficiency of sugarcane, effectively lowering the potential for N losses, thus mitigating not only GHGs but also other impact categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index
Externí odkaz: