The aim of this study was to assess the agronomic performance and costs of slow release fertilizers and fertigation in the production of sugarcane and passion fruit seedlings in tubes. Two experiments were carried out simultaneously, one with sugarcane seedlings (SP80-3280) obtained from stalks with one bud (4 cm) and the other with passion fruit (FB-300) from seeds. Both experiments were conducted in 200-cm 3 tubes filled with composted pine bark-based substrate, with six treatments: (1) control; (2) standard fertilization (g 100 L −1 of substrate), (NH 4) 2 SO 4 (300) + KCl (200) + magnesium thermophosphate (200) + Osmocote® 15-9-12 Plus (600) + Osmocote® 19-6-10 Mini-Prill (600); (3) Osmocote® 15-9-12 Plus (600 g 100 L −1 of substrate); (4) Osmocote® 19-6-10 Mini-Prill (600 g 100 L −1 of substrate); (5) complete fertigation (g 100 L −1 of water), Ca(NO 3) 2 (80) + KNO 3 (50) + MgSO4 (35) + (NH 4) 3 PO4 (10) + ConMicros® Standard (2.5); and (6) macronutrient fertigation, equal 5. except ConMicros®. The results were as follows: (1) sugarcane (70 days) and passion fruit (52 days) seedlings were larger in the fertilized than control tubes; (2) standard fertilization, Osmocote® Mini-Prill, or Osmocote® Plus produced sugarcane and passion fruit seedlings with greater mass; (3) fertigations were the most inexpensive fertilizations; and (4) the slow release fertilizer Osmocote® 19-6-10 Mini-Prill presented larger seedlings, but it cost more (2-3 times) than fertigation. Substrate fertilization is essential for sugarcane and passion fruit seedlings' production in tubes because the substrate itself is not able to provide enough nutrients for seedling development, and although standard fertilization and slow release fertilizers (Osmocote®) allow to produce larger seedlings, they are more expensive than fertigation.

Sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis) is one of the most important insect pests in sugarcane crops in Brazil. Historically, this insect has been controlled with releases of parasitoid Cotesia flavipes. However, chemical control with diamides and insect growth regulators has been used to help in control of this pest. In this study, the effectiveness of the diamide chlorantraniliprole applied in the sugarcane planting furrow and foliar spray on sugarcane borer damage and production were assessed. The experiment was carried out in an experimental area of SP80-3280 sugarcane variety, planted in November 2016 in Uberaba (Brazil), followed a randomized block design with four treatments: control, chlorantraniliprole foliar (21 g ha-1), chlorantraniliprole furrow (105 g ha-1), and chlorantraniliprole furrow (105 g ha-1) + foliar (21 g ha-1), with five replicates (plots). Each experimental plot had six planting lines of 10 m long spaced 1.5 m (90 m 2). One chlorantraniliprole application in the planting furrow and foliar spray was performed in November 2016 and in March 2017, respectively. All plots were infested with D. saccharalis eggs in February and March 2017. In May 2017, the plant height, stalk diameter, and number of tillers were assessed. In October 2017, the mass of stalks, sugarcane borer holes, number and percentage of damaged internodes were evaluated. Chlorantraniliprole applied in the planting furrow did not reduce the damage caused by D. saccharalis. The spray of chlorantraniliprole reduced the damage of the sugarcane borer in about 52%. The chlorantraniliprole application did not affect the initial sugarcane development or its production. One chlorantraniliprole spray in sugarcane was not enough to avoid the D. saccharalis damage and other additional control measures should be used.