Agronomic efficiency of nitrogen fertilization associated with humic substances application in sugarcane

Author(s)

José Marcos Leite

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2016-02-15

Examining board members

Paulo Cesar Ocheuze Trivelin; Valter Casarin; Henrique Coutinho Junqueira Franco

• Advisor: Paulo Cesar Ocheuze Trivelin

Abstract

Humic substances (HS) in mixture with urea can improve N use efficiency (NUE) and sugarcane yield when applied in ratoon. In this regard, lab experiments, greenhouse and field studies have been developed with the following goals: (i) Evaluate and characterize HS extracted from peat in mixtures with urea solutions, quantifying N-mineral content and NH3 volatilization. (ii) Quantify sugarcane yield and technological attributes of sugarcane ratoon fertilized with HS rates, urea rates and mixtures of the fertilizers: HS+urea on field experiments. (iii) Evaluate the recovery efficiency of 15N-urea mixture with HS and humic acid (HA) applied on sugarcane leaf. (iv) To estimate the biomass, nutrient uptake (N, P, K), partitioning (dry leaves, stem and tops) and the ratio (N:P,N:K) of these nutrients in the sugarcane ratoon with different levels of productivity. In the lab, after extraction, purification and characterization of HS, mixtures with rates of urea were performed. It was observed that this mixture was promoted by urea hydrolysis transforming into N-NH4+ and concentration of N-urea may interfere in the hydrolysis. The experiment to evaluate the volatilization was observed that the mixture of HS and urea solution with a fixed pH (pH = 7) led to the reduction in losses by volatilization of NH3. In field studies, N-urea rates (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 kg ha-1), HS rates (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 L ha-1) and mixing these doses: urea + HS. In two of the three studies there were response to the urea nitrogen fertilizers, urea and mixtures HS+urea. In general, urea doses + HS promoted significant increase of 6% yield of stalks (TCH) and 4.5% increase in sugar production (Mg ha-1) compared only with the application of urea. In greenhouse experiments applications were performed via foliar urea, urea+HA and urea+HS. The average of the two experiments, the recovery of 15N (NUE) was added to the HS + urea (49%) compared with HA+urea (43%) and only urea (37%). The foliar application of urea+HS increased the total protein value (7, 24, 17 and 93%) compared with the application of urea for only 96, 192, 360 and 720 hours following fertilizer application, respectively. In addition, there was a nutrient partitioning study (N, P and K) in the components of sugarcane (dry leaf, tops and stems). It was observed for nutrient partitioning process that dry leaves had lower nutrient content (N, P, and K) and broader N:P/N:K ratios when compared with tops and stalks. Greater sugarcane yield and narrowed N:P ratio (6:1) were documented for tops of sugarcane when increasing both N and P content. However, for high systems yields it is necessary check the ratio and balance of nutrients in the components with high photosynthetic activity (tops of sugarcane). (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/21532-5 - Agronomic efficiency of nitrogen associated with humic acid in sugar cane
• Grantee: José Marcos Leite
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate