Fertilization Alternatives for Sugarcane Crop in Pujiltic Sugarcane Mill, Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract

With an aim to evaluate alternative sources of fertilizers for sugarcane crop in Pujiltic, Chiapas, Mexico, two species of nitrogen-fixing plants, canavalia (Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC.) and sesentano bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), were evaluated along with organic fertilizers vermicompost (10 t ha−1) and two biofertilizers [Mycorrhizae (AMF) and Azospirillum brasilense] in a Pachic Leptic Phaeozem soil. The treatments were compared with chemical fertilization (120–60–60) and control treatment (00–00–00) in two sugarcane cultivars: CP 72-2086 and Mex 79-431. The best plant growth was observed in the cultivar Mex 79-431, with a total biomass of 21.0 t ha−1. A yield of 18.5 t ha−1 was recorded for the cultivar CP 72-2086. The Fabaceae species C. ensiformis competed more with the sugarcane crop; however, emergence of new shoots was observed in this treatment. The highest yield was obtained in the cultivar Mex 79-431 with chemical fertilizers, at 92.01 t ha−1, and in the cultivar CP 72-2086 a yield of 78.35 t ha−1 was recorded. The quality of sugarcane juice was not affected by the fertilization treatments. The distribution of the root system was similar in both cultivars, with a greater number of roots in the first horizon (0–30 cm) and at a depth of 32.5 cm from the sugarcane furrow. Intercropping with P. vulgaris, along with application of vermicompost, was found to be one of the best options for sugarcane crop fertilization with the yield levels similar to that in chemical fertilizer application.