5. CONCLUSION
Sugarcane mono-cropping degraded SOC, Na, Ka, Sa and Zn across the cane producing zones, but enormity of soil degradation was more in EZ soils due to low-lying area induces multi-nutrient deficiency, and Fe and Mn content. As a result, lowest soil quality index and highest sensitivity index was in EZ than WZ and CZ. Reversely, CZ soils observed higher nutrient index and soil quality due to greater Na, Paand Ka, TCF, FDA, ꞵ-glucosidase, and urease activities. Na, SOC, AZO and Sa were the common limiting factors across the cane producing zones but, their contributions fluctuated towards SQI development owing to variation in edaphic factor under different cane producing zones. Since, wide variations existed between recommended doses of mineral fertilizers and targeted yield equations based fertilization. Hence, it will be better to cane growers, industry people and policy makers to advise balance nutrient management based on targeted yield equations for achieving higher sugarcane productivity, and improving nutrient index and soil quality. Over all, sugarcane mono-cropping over the decades degraded nutrient index, microbial activity, and soil quality index adversely due to imbalance fertilization. This may further increased if using improper management practices notably in low-lying areas.