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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Canal Point, Florida » Sugarcane Field Station » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #194637
Title: COMPARISON OF NUTRIENT SOURCES OF MINERAL SOIL NUTRITION IN FLORIDA SUGARCANE

Author
item GILBERT, R - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item Morris, Dolen
item PERDOMO, R - FLORIDA CRYSTALS COOPRATI
item POWELL, G - FLORIDA CRYSTALS COOPERAT
item EILAND, B - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item RAINBOLT, CURTIS - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: International Society of Sugarcane Technologist Agronomy Workshop
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/5/2006
Publication Date: 5/23/2006
Citation: Gilbert, R.A., Morris, D.R., Perdomo, R.E., Powell, G., Eiland, B., Rainbolt, C. 2006. Comparison of nutrient sources of mineral soil nutrition in Florida sugarcane [abstract]. International Society of Sugarcane Technologist Agronomy Workshop. p. 25.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Improving soil organic matter and soil fertility are important factors in the sustainability of sugarcane production on mineral soils. A trial was established in 2004 on a sandy Spodosol in Florida to compare the effect of organic and inorganic nutrient sources on soil fertility and sugarcane production. The three nutrient sources were: 1) Mill Mud applied at sugarcane planting (0 or 224 tons/ha); 2) Cropping System prior to sugarcane (soybean as green manure, soybean with aboveground biomass removed for forage, and weedy fallow); and 3) Inorganic Fertilizer (0 or commercial rate). The addition of mill mud prior to planting significantly increased soil pH, P, K, Ca and Mg (sampled at plant can harvest), while the combination of mill mud following soybean green manure translated to higher soil test values of P, K, Ca, Mg, Si and Fe than mill mud alone. The application of mill mud, green manure and inorganic fertilizer all significantly raised plant cane stalk number, stalk weight, (tons of cane per hectare (TCH) and tons of sucrose per hectare (TSH) compared to unfertilized controls, However, the belowground biomass retained in the forage soybean plots did not provide a sugarcane yield benefit. The addition of green manure or fertilizer resulted in an increase of 22 TCH and 2.7 TSH, whereas mill mud increased yields by 54 TCH and 5.4 TSH. Fertilization was not required if mill mud was added to plant cane. In general, adding mill mud to green manure or fertilizer inputs always improved yields, but adding green manure or fertilizer to mill mud provided little additional benefit to plant cane.