Abstract

A study was conducted at Metahara Sugar Estate in Ethiopia to assess effect of vinasse disposal on sugarcane fields. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with five replications. To simulate the amount of vinasse to be disposed, three levels of potassium chloride (0, 340, and 580 kg ha^-1) were tested on three different soil types (brown clay loam, black non-vertic clay and black vertic clay). Soil analysis result showed that available K in the soil was ranged from 311-547 ppm. Potassium chloride application on cane fields had nonsignificant (p<0.05) effect for cane and sugar yields. Similarly, non-significant (p<0.05) effect was found for juice K2O and leaf nutrient contents (N, P and K%). Therefore, the level of potassium chloride applied at the proposed vinasse disposal rates didn’t affect nutrient uptake, yield, and juice quality in the subsequent crop; thus at Metahara Sugar Plantation, sugarcane fields can be used as disposing site for vinasse. However, long-term effect of vinasse to sugarcane crop and dynamics of K in relation to availability and fixation in the soils of the plantation should be further investigated through vinasse application to sugarcane fields.

Keywords: Sugarcane; Ratoon crop; Vinasse; Juice quality; Cane yield; Sugar yield