Agronomic, economic, and environmental assessment of site-specific fertilizer management of Brazilian sugarcane fields

Author(s)

Sanches, Guilherme M. ^[1] ; Magalhaes, Paulo S. G. ^[2] ; Kolln, Oriel T. ^[3] ; Otto, Rafael ^[1] ; Rodrigues, Francelino ^[4] ; Cardoso, Terezinha F. ^[5] ; Chagas, Mateus F. ^[5] ; Franco, Henrique C. J. ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Padua Dias Ave 11, Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Campinas Univ UNICAMP, Sch Agr Engn, Campinas - Brazil

^[3] State Univ Northern Parana, UENP Campus Luiz Meneghel, Bandeirantes, Parana - Brazil

^[4] CIMMYT, Int Maize & Wheat Improvement Ctr, Sustainable Intensificat Program, Texcoco - Mexico

^[5] Brazilian Ctr Res Energy & Mat CNPEM, Brazilian Biorenewables Natl Lab LNBR, Campinas - Brazil

^[6] CROPMAN Agr Innovat, Piracicaba - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: GEODERMA REGIONAL; v. 24, MAR 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Precision agriculture (PA) is an essential tool for site-specific management of soil fertility in sugarcane fields. However, the complexity of the cropping system, limitations on data handling, availability of adequate equipment and the lack of appropriate decision support systems limit the adoption of PA by the sugarcane industry. The objective of this study was to verify the potential economic, environmental and yield gains provided by the site-specific management of soil fertility in the sugarcane industry. A field experiment was conducted over four years, using conventional soil analysis, yield monitor data and variable rate application of lime, nitrogen (N), potassium (K) and phosphorus (P). After two years of variable rate application of fertilizer, available phosphorus (P) content was better distributed, stable, and sufficient to meet crop needs. Maps of potassium (K) rates changed each year, and K content reduced over the years, demonstrating that plant uptake of K was higher than applied. Results showed that applying fertilizer according to the spatial variability of soil can produce better economic and environmental gains, despite the similar average yield (similar to 80 Mg ha(-1) year(-1)) when compared with a field managed according to mill procedures. Maps of yield and soil fertility are a powerful tool for sugarcane management, providing useful information about nutritional requirements based on spatial variation of soil fertility. The economic-environmental assessment performed in this study showed that the site-specific management provides improved soil fertility and sustainability indicators, contributing to higher profitability and low environmental impacts. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/10225-3 - Nitrogen application model to assist site-specific management and improve crop production in a sustainable way
• Grantee: Guilherme Martineli Sanches
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 15/01587-0 - Storage, modeling and analysis of dynamical systems for e-Science applications
• Grantee: João Eduardo Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - eScience and Data Science Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/02817-9 - Identification of soil and plant parameters determinants in the sustainable management of sugar cane for energy using precision agriculture resources
• Grantee: Paulo Sergio Graziano Magalhães
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Regular Program Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/14965-0 - Contribution of Precision Agriculture technology on the sustainability of sugar cane production for energy
• Grantee: Paulo Sergio Graziano Magalhães
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/50942-2 - Applied multispectral reflectance spectroscopy for prediction of soil chemical properties to use in sugarcane precision agriculture
• Grantee: Paulo Sergio Graziano Magalhães
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Regular Program Grants