Growth and yield of sugarcane as a function of phosphorus doses and forms of application

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate sugarcane growth and its agricultural and industrial yield influenced by phosphorus (P) sources and forms of application. The experiment was carried out at the Paisa Sugar Mill, in Penedo-AL, Brazil, from February 2012 to February 2013. The adopted experimental design was a randomized block in a factorial arrangement, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of five doses of triple superphosphate applied in the planting furrow (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1 of P2O5), and three doses of Bayóvar reactive phosphate rock (0, 100 and 200 kg ha-1 of P2O5) applied in the total area. Phosphorus applied in the planting furrow improved sugarcane quality through the reduction of fiber and increases in purity, corrected pol, total recoverable sugar, ton of pol per hectare (TPH) and ton of sugarcane per hectare (TSH). The Bayóvar reactive phosphate rock promoted increases in stem diameter at 120 days after planting (DAP), TPH and TSH. For the interaction triple superphosphate applied in the planting furrow x Bayóvar reactive phosphate rock applied in the total area, there were significant differences in the number of tillers at 30 DAP, stem diameter at 120 DAP and TSH.

Improving phosphorus sustainability of sugarcane production in Brazil

“…Fertilizers and any manures are typically placed as a single dose in the furrow at 8–10 cm depth and close to the planted seedling, with broadcast P topdressings to ratoons in subsequent years. Broadcast or incorporated P facilitates more contact with the soil and is most effective at raising overall soil P fertility (Rossetto, Farhat, Furlan, Gil, & Silva, ; Vitti & Mazza, ), and split applications with some in the furrow and some broadcast has given higher yields in some experiments (Albuquerque, Sá, Rodrigues, Moura, & Oliveira Filho, ). However, the furrow application remains the most practical and cheapest.…”

Phosphorus fertilization in sugarcane cultivation under different soil managements

“…The dose of 200 kg ha -1 of P 2 O 5 in total area led to reduction in TRS and, consequently, resulted in loss of TSH (Table 3). Albuquerque et al (2016) obtained maximum TSH production with the combination of 200 kg ha -1 of P 2 O 5 in total area and 100 kg ha -1 of P 2 O 5 in the planting furrow. However, the highest P doses combined in total area and furrow also resulted in TSH loss, corroborating with the results obtained here.…”

“…Morelli et al (1991), evaluating the effect of phosphorus doses applied broadcast and in the sugarcane planting furrow in a sandy soil, observed that the broadcast application resulted in higher yields. Albuquerque et al (2016), working in medium-textured soil, obtained the highest yield with the combination in total area and bottom of the furrow. Caione et al (2011), in soil with clayey texture, observed no difference in yield with respect to the form of phosphorus application.…”

Inoculation With Growth-Promoting Bacteria Associated With the Reduction of Phosphate Fertilization in Sugarcane

“…Several studies have been conducted to highlight the role of phosphorous in improved production of sugarcane (Tsado et al, 2013;Caione et al, 2015). Albuquerque et al (2016) described that application of P as triple superphosphate up to 100 kg P 2 O 5 ha −1 in the furrow increases the yield of cane variety RB92579. Application of P in the furrow as triple superphosphate (at the rate of 100 kg P 2 O 5 ha −1 ) increased the yield of sugarcane by 34% in comparison of control (Caione et al, 2013).…”

“…Several field and greenhouse researches with phosphate fertilizer in sugar cane (Calheiros et al, 2012;Caione et al, 2015;Albuquerque et al, 2016;Borges et al, 2019) however, they did not work with inoculation of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (alone or in combination). Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are playing a key role in plant health and growth and can be promisingly applied in agricultural production to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.…”