Sugarcane Fertilizer Recommendations R. Johnson, H.Viator, B. Legendre
Essential Nutrients Nitrogen Phosphorous Potassium Calcium Sulfur Magnesium Micronutrients Zinc, Boron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Chlorine, Copper, Iron
Phosphorus (P 2 O 5 ) About 1 lb is removed per ton of cane Availability depends on ph and soil type Soil Test Recommendations: Soil Test Plant Stubble Very Low 50 60 Low 45 50 Med. 40 40 High 0 0 Very High 0 0
Potassium (K 2 O) About 3 lbs removed per ton of cane Natural abundance depends on soil type Soil Test Recommendations: Soil test Plant Stubble Very Low 130 140 Low 110 120 Medium 80 80 High 0 0 Very High 0 0
Sulfur (S) Stubble Cane more likely to respond Response more likely on heavy soils Apply 24 lbs Sulfur per acre if recommended by soil test.
Managing Soil Acidity R. Johnson and E.P. Richard, Jr. USDA-ARS-SRRC Sugarcane Research Unit Houma, LA USA
Why should we apply lime? To reduce aluminum and manganese toxicity. To correct Magnesium Deficiencies (Dolomitic Lime, i.e. MgCO 3 vs. CaCO 3 ). To enhance the activity of soil microorganisms. To improve the activity of soil applied herbicides. To improve fertilizer use efficiency by maximizing nutrient availability.
Effect of Soil ph on Nutrient Availability
Why does the soil ph decrease? Application of ammonia or urea-based nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers will decrease soil ph levels over time (32% UAN, ammonia nitrate, urea, DAP). It takes 55 lbs of pure CaCO 3 to neutralize the acidity from 100 pounds of 32% UAN and 70 pounds of CaCO 3 to neutralize 100 pounds of DAP. Soil ph will also decrease due to crop uptake of K Ca and Mg. Hydrogen (H) will replace these cations on the soil exchange surface.
When and how should I apply lime? Lime when: Soil ph < 5.8 on sandy loam & silt loam soils. Soil ph < 5.2 on clay loam & clay soils. Broadcast lime to fallow fields, or in fall or winter. The lime rate should be based on soil test and ideally should raise soil ph to 6.5. Apply lime after precision leveling. Variable rate lime application may more accurately target problem ph areas and ultimately save money.
How long will it take for the lime to work? The biggest change will occur within 3-4 months. The ph may continue to increase for 6-12 months. Smaller lime particles, will react more quickly than larger particles. Larger particles will not change soil ph as quickly, but may provide ph control (buffering capacity) over a longer period of time.
USDA Lime Test Results, Naquin Farms 2002-2004, LCP 85-384. Treatment Cane T/A TRS lb/t Sugar lb/a Cane T/A TRS lb/t Sugar lb/a Cane T/A TRS lb/t Plant 1 st Stubble 2 nd Stubble Sugar lb/a No Lime 27.1 199.8 5456 33.2 218.0 7219 24.0 241.3 5795 Conv.* Lime 34.0 199.8 6833 36.3 221.0 8031 28.0 236.6 6600 Increase +6.9 0 +1377 +3.1 +3.0 +812 +4.0-4.7 +805 LSD (5%) 2.8 NS 622 2.8 5.2 483 1.4 4.6 351 3 year total = 2,994 lbs sugar and 14 tons of cane. Return ~ $300.00 1 ton of lime (2002) = $24.50. Return on investment ~1200% (-appl. costs) (Conventional Lime = uniform broadcast application at 1 ton/acre.)
Nitrogen Fertilizer Research R. Johnson, H.Viator, C. Kennedy, A. Arceneaux
USDA, Nitrogen Fertilizer Experiments - 2007 Locations: Rosedale Plantation L97-128 - November 6, 2007 Naquin Farms HoCP 96-540 - November 26, 2007 Laurel Valley Ho 95-988 - December 4, 2007 St. Louis Planting - CP 89-2143 - December 6, 2007 Treatments: Plant cane, 1 st stubble 3 rows x 50-ft, 6 reps 0, 40, 80, 120, 160 lbs N/A (32% UAN)
LSU Nitrogen Fertilizer Experiments Ronald Hebert, Jr., Patoutville, LA L 99-226, L 99-233, - 1 st stubble. 3 rows x 30-ft, 6 reps 40, 80, 160, 240 lbs N/A (32% UAN) LSU, St. Gabriel, LA LCP 85-384, Ho 95-988, L 97-128, - Plant-cane, 1 st Stubble, 2 nd stubble (Harvest November 8, 2007) L 99-226, HoCP 96-540, LCP 85-384, - Plant-cane (Harvest November 19, 2007) 4 rows x 46-ft, (2 center rows for harvest), 4 reps 0, 40, 80, 120 lbs N/A (32% UAN)
Varietal Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer (Sugar/A) Plant Cane 8823 8949 9329 9281 9830 11192 11032 11475 11214 11440 9312 9384 8272 9631 9898 9617 9725 9056 6276 4150 12000 10000 a a a a a c b a a a a a a a a a a a a a CP 89-2143 L 97-128 HoCP 96-540 Ho 95-988 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 0 40 80 120 160 lbs/a
Varietal Response to Nitrogen Fertilzier (Sugar/A) 1 st Stubble 10740 10569 10717 9727 9132 9814 9112 10282 10300 10506 9894 7024 6981 6265 6666 4871 7365 7100 5250 7286 12000 10000 b a a a a c b a a a b a a a a b a a a a 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 CP 89-2143 L 97-128 HoCP 96-540 Ho 95-988 0 40 80 120 160 lbs/a
Effect of Nitrogen Fertilzier on Sugar Yields/A (Averaged over Variety and Crop) lbs/a 10000 9000 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 9953 9854 9744 9073 7744 c b ab a a 0 40 80 120 160
9000 Varietal Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer (Sugar/A) 1st Stubble lbs/a 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 5893 7438 8333 8560 6438 7375 7805 7085 3000 2000 1000 0 b a a a a a a a L 99-233 L 99-226 40 80 160 240
8000 Varietal Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer (Sugar/A) Plant Cane, St. Gabriel 7000 6000 5000 7251 6873 7571 7891 7441 7421 6760 7334 6456 6287 6221 6586 lbs/a 4000 3000 2000 1000 ab ab ab a ab ab ab ab b b b ab 0 L 97-128 Ho 95-988 LCP 85-384 0 40 80 120
lbs/a 10000 9000 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 5961 Varietal Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer (Sugar/A) 1st Stubble, St. Gabriel 7670 8392 8254 7255 8948 e cd bc bc d ab a a e cd d 9320 L 97-128 Ho 95-988 LCP 85-384 9620 6261 7678 7354 7310 d 0 40 80 120
9000 Varietal Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer (Sugar/A) 2nd Stubble, St. Gabriel lbs/a 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 5025 6359 6754 8363 6366 7222 7265 8112 5265 6609 7108 7169 3000 2000 1000 0 d c bc a c b b a d bc bc L 97-128 Ho 95-988 LCP 85-384 0 40 80 120 b
Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Sugar Yields/A, Plant Cane, St. Gabriel lbs/a 9200 9100 9000 8900 8800 8700 8600 8500 8400 8300 8200 8982 9050 Sugar 9173 a a a b 8529 0 40 80 120
Summary of Nitrogen Studies Optimum N Rate 80 lb N/A Plant cane and 1 st stubble Optimum N Rate 120 lb N/A 2 nd stubble
Nitrogen Fertilizer Recommendations for 2008 Plant cane: light soils: Old 80-100 lb New 60-80 lb N/A Plant cane: heavy soils: Old 100-120 lb New 80-100 lb N/A Stubble cane: light soils: Old 120-140 lb N/A New 80-100 lb N/A Stubble cane: heavy soils: Old 140-160 lb N/A New 100-120 lb N/A Old recommendations based on ~ 300 tests over 26 year period (1953-1979) when anhydrous ammonia was the primary nitrogen fertilizer used. New recommendations based on recent tests (~ 28) in which UAN 32% was the primary nitrogen fertilizer used.
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