A soil test-based fertilizer prescription minimises over- or under-application of fertilizer inputs, improving crop production and fertilizer use effectiveness. By conducting field experiments of the sugarcane plant crop for three years between 2017–18 and 2019–20 on Vertisols at Regional Sugarcane and Rice Research Station, Rudrur, Nizamabad district, Telangana state, the validity of the soil test crop response (STCR) equation was examined. For a yield target of 110 t ha-1, the treatments comprise farmers' fertilizer practises, RDF, and STCR-based fertilizer recommendations. Based on the initial soil test results of the individual locations, the N, P, and K fertilizers for the yield target were computed. According to the findings, STCR (110 t ha-1) increased yield on average by 1.0% above blanket (100% RDF) and 3.7% over farmer's practise. The findings showed that the intended yield was attained by 5% after fertilizer application to the sugarcane crop in accordance with the yield target of 110 t ha-1. A net reduction in the amount of P2O5 and K2O fertilizers needed to achieve the current recommended dose of 41 kg and 37 kg ha-1, respectively, and a saving of Rs. 2,275 in fertilizer costs per application per year. The STCR recommendations' (2.30) stronger benefit-to-cost ratio compared to those for farmers' practises (2.18). The sugarcane plant crop's fertilizer prescription equation was created, and it was determined to be suitable for achieving the target sugarcane yield of 110 t ha-1.

Field trails, STCR equation, sugarcane plant crop, validation

The formulae for recommending fertilizer doses for sugarcane on vertisols were validated by the fact that the percentage of the planned yield was achieved with a variance of less than 5%. The development and maintenance of soil fertility as a result of the IPNS fertilizer recommendation based on soil test results were indicated by the post-harvest soil available N, P, and K status. For the Vertisols of the Nizamabad District to achieve a yield target of 110 t ha-1, the STCR equation (FN=5.40 T-1.42 SN; FP2O5=1.80 T-4.37 SP; FK2O=1.70 T-0.33 SK) developed for sugarcane plant crop can be advised, and it can be extrapolated to other districts of Telangana on similar and related soil types.

T. Prabhakar Reddy, T. Srijaya, A. Madhavi, Firdoz Sahana, D.Vijaya Lakshmi and K. Ravindhar (2022). Validation of Soil Test and Yield Target Based Fertilizer Prescription Equation for Sugarcane on Vertisols of Northern Telangana Zone. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4a): 385-389.