Agronomic efficiency of nitrogen fertilization in plant cane

Author(s)

Henrique Coutinho Junqueira Franco

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2008-02-25

Examining board members

Paulo Cesar Ocheuze Trivelin; Heitor Cantarella; Jairo Antonio Mazza; Raffaella Rossetto; Godofredo Cesar Vitti

• Advisor: Paulo Cesar Ocheuze Trivelin

Abstract

In the sugarcane agrosystem under Brazilian conditions, the nitrogen fertilization response in plant cane is still an issue that has not been completely clarified. The use of 15N-labeled nitrogen fertilizers can help understand this unresolved question. In this respect, two experiments were conducted in commercial areas at Sugar Mills São Luiz (Typic Eutrustox) and Santa Adélia (Arenic Kandiustults). The experimental design was organized as random blocks and treatments consisted of 3 N rates (40, 80, and 120 kg ha-1 N in the form of urea) and a control. Microplots that received urea-15N were installed in the center of plots that involved N rates. The experiments were installed on 02/28/2005 and on 04/04/2005, respectively, at Usina São Luiz (USL) and Usina Santa Adélia (USA). Before installing the USA experiment, an estimate was obtained for the stock of nutrients from crop residues. It was observed that 200 kg ha-1 N in organic form were incorporated into the soil when the sugarcane field was renovated. During plant cane growth, phytomass samplings were performed in the above-ground part of the plants. Dry matter accumulation was determined in those samplings. Samples from +1 leaves were harvested at the maximum plant growth stage to evaluate their nutritional status. The experiments were harvested on 06/15/2006 at USL and on 07/18/2006 at USA. Dry matter accumulation in the above-ground part of plant cane had a typical plant-growth sigmoidal shape, regardless of N rate. The maximum plant cane growth stage occurred from September to April, when the weather conditions were more favorable for crop development. Nitrogen fertilization increased the N, K, Mg, and S contents in the diagnostic leaves. Urea-15N recovery values (%) obtained at plant cane harvest were, on the average of all experiments, 30, 30, and 21% for the rates of 40, 80, and 120 kg ha-1 N, respectively. The lower urea-N15 recovery observed at the higher rates, especially at 120 kg ha-1, was due to N losses in the soil-plant system. The utilization of urea-15N represented, on average, 11.7% of total nitrogen accumulated in the whole plant. Nitrogen fertilization increased the nutrient uptake by the whole plant in both experiments and provided greater accumulation of nutrients in the underground part of the crop. In the average of the experiments, and considering the nutritional requirements of the whole plant to produce 1TSS (1 ton of stalks per hectare), uptake amounted to: 1.38 kg N, 0.15 kg P, 3.24 kg K, 0.60 kg Ca, 0.26 kg Mg, 0.28 kg S, 53 g Fe, 15 g Mn, 2.2 g Zn, 1.3 g B, and 0.6 g Cu. Nitrogen fertilization increased the TSS value in the USL experiment, while no response was obtained in the USA experiment. Nitrogen fertilization interfered with stalk technological attributes at USA, but no effect was detected at USL. Nitrogen fertilization significantly increased sugar production per hectare in both experiments. The highest margin of agricultural contribution in both experiments was obtained at the rate of 40 kg ha-1 N. (AU)