Green manuring in sugarcane – A review

Green manures play an important role in the nutrition of sugarcane productivity. Intercropping and incorporation of green manure legumes in sugarcane, not only increased the cane productivity, but also improved the soil fertility for sustainable cane production. Growing of green manure crops in between the rows of cane and incorporated at 45 days after sowing will supply nitrogen by adding organic matter and besides increasing the phosphorus availability through release of organic acids during decomposition and mcrease the nutrient use efficiency. Incorporation of green manure legumenous crops viz., sunhemp, daincha, gur, mung and soybean etc. into the soil have the beneficial effect on cane productivity and soil fertility. Research information on various studies all over India indicate the significant favourable influences on cane productivity and on soil fertility are reviewed in this paper.