Effect of Crotalaria rotation and trash removal in soil N transformations and sugarcane response to N fertilization

• Grant number: 14/05591-0
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Regular Program Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2014
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Rafael Otto
• Grantee: Rafael Otto
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Henrique Coutinho Junqueira Franco ; João Luís Nunes Carvalho ; Oriel Tiago Kolln ; Paulo Cesar Ocheuze Trivelin ; Paulo Sergio Pavinato

Abstract

Sustainability of sugarcane based biofuel production is affected by nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The challenge is to increase sugarcane yield while decreasing synthetic N fertilizer usage towards improving NUE. One option is to adopt a legume-based rotation, such as sunn hemp (Crotalaria). The cost is the main limitation, but it can be overcome by increases in yield and reduction of N application at planting. Previous research indicates also a potential reduction in ratoon N fertilization, but studies are still needed under Brazilian conditions. The goal is to evaluate the effect of sunn hemp rotation in reducing N fertilizer demand by sugarcane ratoon. Four field trials will be set up in areas that received (i) or not (ii) previous rotation with sunn hemp. The trials will be set up after cane-plant harvest by means of application of the followings treatments: control, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha-1 N, as well as two additional treatments: 50 or 100% of straw removal (with 100 kg ha-1 N - allowing evaluate the effect of straw removal on sugarcane yield and NUE). In one local, 15N fertilizer will be applied in order to quantify NUE and recovery in the soil. Field trials will be set up in 2014 and measurements of soil N transformations, sugarcane yield and quality, N uptake, and NUE will be performed in the following harvests (2015, and 2016). The final objective is to evaluate the potential of sunn hemp rotation in reducing N fertilizer requirements for sugarcane based biofuel production. (AU)

Scientific publications

(8)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CANTARELLA, HEITOR; OTTO, RAFAEL; SOARES, JOHNNY RODRIGUES; DE BRITO SILVA, AIJANIO GOMES. Agronomic efficiency of NBPT as a urease inhibitor: A review. JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH, v. 13, n. SI, p. 19-27, SEP 2018. (14/05591-0, 15/50305-8, 16/08741-8, 13/50365-5, 14/26767-9)

TENELLI, SARAH; OTTO, RAFAEL; BORDONAL, RICARDO OLIVEIRA; CARVALHO, JOAO LUIS NUNES. How do nitrogen fertilization and cover crop influence soil C-N stocks and subsequent yields of sugarcane?. SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH, v. 211, JUL 2021. (14/05591-0)

OTTO, RAFAEL; PEREIRA, GREICE LEAL; TENELLI, SARAH; NUNES CARVALHO, JOAO LUIS; LAVRES, JOSE; QUASSI DE CASTRO, SAULO AUGUSTO; LISBOA, IZAIAS PINHEIRO; SERMARINI, RENATA ALCARDE. Planting legume cover crop as a strategy to replace synthetic N fertilizer applied for sugarcane production. INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS, v. 156, NOV 15 2020. (14/05591-0)

BOHORQUEZ-SANCHEZ, CAMILO ERNESTO; DE CASTRO, SAULO AUGUSTO QUASSI; CARVALHO, JOAO LUIS NUNES; TENELLI, SARAH; FERRAZ-ALMEIDA, RISELY; SERMARINI, RENATA ALCARDE; LISBOA, IZAIAS PINHEIRO; OTTO, RAFAEL. Legume growth and straw retention in sugarcane fields: Effects on crop yield, C and N storage in the central-south Brazil. AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT, v. 347, p. 14-pg., 2023-01-30. (15/25151-7, 14/05591-0, 20/11865-6)

CANTARELLA, HEITOR; OTTO, RAFAEL; SOARES, JOHNNY RODRIGUES; DE BRITO SILVA, AIJANIO GOMES. Agronomic efficiency of NBPT as a urease inhibitor: A review. JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH, v. 13, p. 9-pg., 2018-09-01. (14/26767-9, 15/50305-8, 14/05591-0, 13/50365-5, 16/08741-8)

TENELLI, SARAH; OTTO, RAFAEL; QUASSI DE CASTRO, SAULO AUGUSTO; BOHORQUEZ SANCHEZ, CAMILO ERNESTO; SCHMIEDT SATTOLO, THALES MEINL; KAMOGAWA, MARCOS YASSUO; PAGLIARI, PAULO HUMBERTO; NUNES CARVALHO, JOAO LUIS. Legume nitrogen credits for sugarcane production: implications for soil N availability and ratoon yield. NUTRIENT CYCLING IN AGROECOSYSTEMS, v. 113, n. 3, p. 307-322, APR 2019. (14/05591-0)

QUASSI DE CASTRO, SAULO AUGUSTO; OTTO, RAFAEL; BOHORQUEZ SANCHEZ, CAMILO ERNESTO; TENELLI, SARAH; SERMARINI, RENATA ALCARDE; OCHEUZE TRIVELIN, PAULO CESAR. Sugarcane straw preservation results in limited immobilization and improves crop N-fertilizer recovery. BIOMASS & BIOENERGY, v. 144, JAN 2021. (14/05591-0, 15/25151-7)

OTTO, R.; CASTRO, S. A. Q.; MARIANO, E.; CASTRO, S. G. Q.; FRANCO, H. C. J.; TRIVELIN, P. C. O.. Nitrogen Use Efficiency for Sugarcane-Biofuel Production: What Is Next?. BioEnergy Research, v. 9, n. 4, p. 1272-1289, DEC 2016. (14/05591-0)