Sugarcane Response to Mill Mud, Fertilizer, and Soybean Nutrient Sources on a Sandy Soil

Abstract

SugarcaneA gronomy J our n al • Volume 10 0 , I s sue 3 • 2 0 0 8 845 ABSTRACT Improving soil organic matter and soil fertility are important factors in the sustainability of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) production. A 3-yr fi eld trial was established in 2004 on a sandy Alfi sol in Florida to compare the eff ect of organic and inorganic nutrient sources on sugarcane production. Th e three nutrient sources were (i) mill mud (fi lter cake, cachaza), (ii) local standard fertilizer, and (iii) soybean cropping system before sugarcane. Soybean green manure increased sucrose yield (TSH, t sucrose ha -1 ) 20% in plant cane, however when aboveground biomass was removed soybean rotation did not improve sugarcane yields. Fertilization did not increase yields if mill mud was added to plant cane. Soybean green manure did not improve sugarcane ratoon crop yields, and there were no signifi cant interactions in the ratoon crops. Th e application of mill mud resulted in a 49% TSH increase in fi rst ratoon and a 167% increase in second ratoon whereas inorganic fertilizer application increased TSH by 31 and 49% in fi rst and second ratoon, respectively. Over the 3-yr crop cycle, addition of mill mud alone led to an increase of 4.1 TSH compared with inorganic fertilizer alone, whereas soybean green manure alone produced 2.6 TSH less than fertilizer. However, combinations of nutrient sources with mill mud had additive eff ects in the ratoon crops. Our results indicate that mill mud was more eff ective than soybean green manure or local standard fertilizer practices in increasing sugarcane yields on sand. However, growers should fertilize ratoon crops when mill mud has been applied to achieve maximum sugarcane yields.

Sugarcane Yield Response to Soybean Double-cropping in Louisiana

“…Since no significant two‐ or three‐way interactions were observed, main effects of soybean, starter fertilizer, and sugarcane variety are presented (Table 3). In Florida, on a sandier soil, plant‐cane yield was 36 tons/acre following a soybean crop compared to 29 tons/acre following fallow (7). This increase equated to an additional 4400 lbs sugar per acre (7).…”

“…In Florida, on a sandier soil, plant‐cane yield was 36 tons/acre following a soybean crop compared to 29 tons/acre following fallow (7). This increase equated to an additional 4400 lbs sugar per acre (7). Our cane yields were more similar to those reported in a Thailand study where plant‐cane yield was 52 and 50 tons/acre with soybean and with fallow‐only treatments, respectively (11).…”

U.S. Billion-Ton Update: Biomass Supply for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry

“…These byproducts can include vinasse from the fermentation process, biochar from pyrolysis, and filter press mud and boiler fly ash from the squeezing of stalks. A positive synergistic response was observed when the application of fertilizer was combined with an application of filter press mud in Florida (Gilbert et al, 2008). In Brazil, vinasse from the ethanol distillery is typically returned to the recently harvested fields to supplement fertilizer requirements.…”

Effects of Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Damage on Sugarcane Yield

“…Individual stalks were weighed separately, and biomass yield (kilograms per bucket) was calculated as the product of the number of millable stalks and the mean stalk weight in each bucket. To determine sugar concentration, two randomly selected millable stalks per bucket from each block were milled and crusher juiceanalyzed for brix and pol values as described by Gilbert et al (2008). These values were used to calculate sugar yield (kilograms per bucket) according to the theoretically recoverable sugar method (Glaz et al 2002).…”