Potassium nutrition in the first and second ratoon sugarcane grown in an Oxisol by a conservationist system

• Published in: Chilean journal of agricultural research Vol. 74; no. 1; pp. 83 - 88
• Main Authors: Alves Flores, Rilner, de Mello Prado, Renato, Alexandre Pancelli, Márcio, Júnior Almeida, Hilário, Rosatto Moda, Leandro, Melo Montes Nogueira Borges, Bernardo, Pereira de Souza Júnior, Jonas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Chillán Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research 01.01.2014; Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA
• Subjects: Agricultural production; AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY; AGRONOMY; Analytical chemistry; Crop residues; Experiments; Fertilizers; Leaves; Nutrients; Potassium; Saccharum officinarum; Soil fertility; Studies; Sugarcane; Variance analysis; Brazil; Sao Paulo Brazil; residues covering; Saccharum officinarum; Plant nutrition
• ISSN: 0718-5839; 0718-5820; 0718-5839
• DOI: 10.4067/S0718-58392014000100013

The presence of mulch on the soil surface after the mechanical harvesting of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) enhances the cycling of nutrients, especially K, which can decrease K fertilizer recommendations for the crop. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of K addition to an Oxisol, with an initial concentration 0.07 cmolc K kg^sup ^sup -1^^, in first and second ratoon (no-till) sugarcane cultures by a conservationist system, i.e. rational use of fertilizers, use of alternative inputs and especially the maintenance of residues in soil that was previously burned to facilitate cutting. The following K doses were tested: 0, 32.5, 65, 130, and 195 kg K^sub 2^O ha^sup -1^, arranged in a randomized block design with five replicates. Potassium content in the soil and in the plant, as well as the yield and the quality of stalks were evaluated. Soil K application increased K concentration in soil and plant, and was reflected in the production of stalks, with higher production (87.5 and 107.5 t ha^sup -1^) with the use of 120 and 123 kg K^sub 2^O ha^sup -1^ in first and second ratoon sugarcane, respectively. At the first 2 yr it was not possible to reduce the K fertilization in ratoon. Therefore, with the introduction of the conservationist system there was an increase (20 t ha^sup -1^) at the second ratoon regarding the first one with the same applied rate. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]