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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Canal Point, Florida » Sugarcane Field Station » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #101320
Title: SUGARCANE GENOTYPE RESPONSE TO PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER IN THE EVERGLADES

Author
item Glaz, Barry
item POWELL, GERALD - OKEELANTA SUGAR CORP
item PERDOMO, RAUL - OKEELANTA SUGAR CORP
item ULLOA, MODESTO - OKEELANTA SUGAR CORP

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/5/2000
Publication Date: 9/1/2000
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Restoration of the Florida Everglades is a national priority. As part of this restoration process, there are strict legislative controls on the amount of phosphorus that can be discharged to the natural Everglades from Florida sugarcane farms. Best management practices to meet these requirements cost farmers $153 per ha to install and $9 per ha to maintain. This research classified the phosphorus fertilizer requirements of 24 important sugarcane varieties. Several varieties maintained high yields at less than normal phosphorus fertilizer rates and/or had high yields at greater than normal rates. Both types of varieties can be useful as no-cost phosphorus control measures. Varieties that yield well with reduced phosphorus fertilizer can be used directly to lower phosphorus inputs. Varieties that yield well with more phosphorus can be used in rotation with other crops that require high phosphorus fertilizer rates. Following high phosphorus crops with sugarcane is a useful management tool for farmers to control phosphorus discharge

Technical Abstract: To protect the natural Everglades, federal legislation mandates a reduction of at least 25% in the P content of water discharged from the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). The objective of this study was to identify differences in response to P fertilizer among elite genotypes of sugarcane (interspecific hybrids of Saccharum spp.). Seven yield characteristics were tested on Histosols at four field locations with no added P (P0), a normal commercial rate of 24 kg P per ha (P1), and 48 kg P per ha (P2) for the plant-cane, first-ratoon, and, in three locations, the second-ratoon crop. Eight genotypes were planted at two locations, and two other groups of eight genotypes were each tested at one location. Several genotypes were identified that maintained high yields at P0 and/or had high yields at P2. This information allows EAA farmers to use genotype choice as a no- cost best management practice (BMP) to reduce P content of their drainage water