Preliminary results of a network of trials related to sugarcane nutrition in Reunion Island
IN REUNION ISLAND, sugarcane is grown under highly contrasting climatic conditions, from the sea level to the highlands (up to 1000 m altitude), with very different soil types. Taking this diversity into account, a network of agronomic trials was implemented in 2005 on grower farms across the island. Four main fertilisation or amelioration techniques were tested: i) reduction of soil acidity using mill ash compared to liming materials, Mag lime and Physiolith; ii) sustainable nutrient management based on soil analysis, iii) effect of a slow release fertiliser-polymer-coated granular urea and iv) effect of splitting nitrogen application. In each trial, the traditional grower practices were used as control. Outcomes of the trials included: correction of soil acidity using mill ash with a sugar yield 10 to 23% higher than the control; a better sugar yield per ha using sustainable nutrient management (in one of two trials); a sugar yield loss using a reduced rate (-30%) of polymer-coated granular urea; a positive impact on ratoon yield when nitrogen application was split into two events. Such a network of trials should facilitate a faster adoption of research recommendations by the growers as it allows a direct exchange of information between sugarcane farmers and agronomists and addresses growers' issues.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | conference_item biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Published: |
s.n.
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| Subjects: | F04 - Fertilisation, F01 - Culture des plantes, Saccharum officinarum, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6727, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6543, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3081, |
| Online Access: | http://agritrop.cirad.fr/554614/ http://agritrop.cirad.fr/554614/1/document_554614.pdf |
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| Summary: | IN REUNION ISLAND, sugarcane is grown under highly contrasting climatic conditions, from the sea level to the highlands (up to 1000 m altitude), with very different soil types. Taking this diversity into account, a network of agronomic trials was implemented in 2005 on grower farms across the island. Four main fertilisation or amelioration techniques were tested: i) reduction of soil acidity using mill ash compared to liming materials, Mag lime and Physiolith; ii) sustainable nutrient management based on soil analysis, iii) effect of a slow release fertiliser-polymer-coated granular urea and iv) effect of splitting nitrogen application. In each trial, the traditional grower practices were used as control. Outcomes of the trials included: correction of soil acidity using mill ash with a sugar yield 10 to 23% higher than the control; a better sugar yield per ha using sustainable nutrient management (in one of two trials); a sugar yield loss using a reduced rate (-30%) of polymer-coated granular urea; a positive impact on ratoon yield when nitrogen application was split into two events. Such a network of trials should facilitate a faster adoption of research recommendations by the growers as it allows a direct exchange of information between sugarcane farmers and agronomists and addresses growers' issues. |
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