Effect of organic additives on the development and extension of roots in sugarcane variety CP48-103

Iran's domestic sugar production comes from both sugarcane and sugar beet industries with sugar output in recent years split very roughly 50/50 between the two crops. The sugarcane industry is concentrated in Khuzestan Province in the south-west of Iran. A pot trial was undertaken to examine the effect of various organic amendments, readily available in the industry, on root growth of sugarcane variety CP48-103. The treatments involved different combinations of a trash blanket, molasses, vinasse and buffalo manure. In addition, the effect of the addition of two microbial solutions, with good hydrolysis and composting properties, was also examined. The first microbial solution contained bacteria of the Bacillaceae family (Bacillus licheniformis, B. subtilis, Geobacillus thermodenitrificans and Brevibacillus agri) plus the fungus Thermoascus, whereas the second microbial solution tested contained the fungi Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma fumigatus and Trichoderma harzianum. The pots were placed outdoors near sugarcane fields to simulate a realistic growth environment. Plants were harvested 5 months after planting, and root weights and lengths measured.