Silicon fertilization in sugarcane: residual effect on soil, yield, technological quality and borer stalk and rust incidence

• Grant number: 10/18802-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Mônica Sartori de Camargo
• Grantee: Gabriela Rocha
• Host Institution: Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The importance of sugarcane to Brazil, wich is the biggest world producer, is undeniable because income, employments and sustainable energy. Sugarcane presents high silicon absorption, wich is an element with low content in most of tropical soils, specially sandy and silty loam soils. These soils types are located in major of Sao Paulo expansion zones of sugarcane. Silicate use in these soils could increase yield, drought tolerance and reduce damages caused by pests and diseases, but there is few studies about this subject in Brazil, specially about residual effects. The objective will be evaluate yield, technological quality, stalk borer and rust incidence in sugarcane ratoon cultivated in Oxisol (low Si content) with silicon application at planting. The experiment will be done in field conditions at sugarcane ratoon (2o cycle) in completely randomized blocks, 4 rates (0, 55, 110 e 165 kg ha-1 Si), 2 varieties (IAC 87 3396; SP 89 1115) and 4 replications. It will be done evaluation of rust incidence during third month until disease stabilization. After harvest of sugarcane plots, will be done chemical analysis for soil fertility, and Si content in soils by 2 extractants (acetic acid 0.5 Mol L-1 and CaCl2 0.01 mol L-1) and evaluation of yield, technological quality, damage of borer stalk and silicon contents of leaves +1 (6 and 8 months) and stems and leaves at harvest.