Performance of enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers in green‐harvesting sugarcane

Abstract

Enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEF) are of interest for sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) production due to the potential to reduce N losses, and improve crop yield and environmental conditions. This study was conducted to determine the effect of urea with N‐(n‐butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) or dicyandiamide (DCD) on NH3 volatilization and sugarcane yield. The NH3 volatilization, the foliar concentration of N and S, and yield of stalk and pol were monitored in two field trials testing six N sources (urea; urea + NBPT; urea + DCD; ammonium sulfate [AS]; ammonium nitrate [AN]; ammonium sulfate nitrate), and three N rates (50, 100, and 150 kg ha−1). The N losses from urea totaled 22 and 18% in Sites 1 and 2, respectively. Treating urea with NBPT reduced NH3 volatilization by 60%. Sugarcane yield increased 8.8; 11.6; and 16.0 Mg ha−1 (Site 1), and 4.5, 9.3, and 14.2 Mg ha−1 (Site 2) with the application of 50, 100, and 150 kg ha−1 N as compared to control, respectively. All N sources increased yields, demonstrating similar efficiency for sugarcane production. Green harvesting sugarcane cultivated in sandy soils with low organic matter concentration is highly responsive to N, showing similar efficiency between EEF and conventional N fertilizers.

Stabilized urea for maize grown on an Amazonian Cerrado soil

“…The higher yields promoted by UI compared to U do not corroborate the findings of Barth et al. (2020) or Cantarella et al. (2018).…”

“…The higher yields promoted by UI compared to U do not corroborate the findings of Barth et al (2020) or Cantarella et al (2018). The first authors stated that although NBPT urea application reduced NH 3 losses by up to 60%, it promoted no sugarcane yield gains; the latter reported that NBPT added to urea reduced NH3 volatilization losses by 52%, but sugarcane yields only increased by 6%.…”

“…Under these conditions, nitrogen fertilizers that did not contain a UI were more exposed to the action of the enzyme present in straw and soil, which may have increased N losses by volatilization. Low rainfall (from 5 to 40 mm) before and after application of urea is known to not be enough to incorporate urea and hence mitigate N losses by volatilization (Barth et al, 2020;Cantarella et al, 2018;Degaspari et al, 2020;Mira et al, 2017;Zaman et al, 2008). Nitrogen supply from SOM can result in yield gains (Soinne et al, 2020).…”

Chemical attributes of the soil in area with organic waste from cachaça production in the Lambedouro Valley – Viçosa of Ceará

“…Nitrogen is best used by the plant in soil with a pH above 5.5. N is largely responsible for this yield (Novais et al 2007;Barth et al 2020), so the N available in the soil of the area with the presence of cachaça production residues will be put to good use.…”