Abstract
In semi-arid tropics, sugarcane yield and quality are affected by deficiencies in soil nutrients, including potassium and calcium. We examined the effects of two different potassium fertilizers, a traditional muriate of potash (MOP) and polyhalite (which contains potassium and calcium), on sugarcane growth, yield, and quality. Experimental treatments compared a control 0 kg K ha−1 (T1) to potassium applied as MOP only at 80 kg K ha−1 (T2) and at 120 kg K ha−1 (T3), and potassium applied as an equal split of MOP and polyhalite at 80 kg K ha−1 (T4) and at 120 kg K ha−1 (T5). Relative to the control the potassium-enhanced treatments had improved rates of key growth parameters, and of cane yields, which were 4.4, 6.2, 8.2, and 9.9% higher in T2, T3, T4,, and T5, respectively, than in T1. Regardless of fertilizer used, potassium applied at 80 kg K ha−1 achieved the highest sugar purity and commercial cane sugar content. All potassium fertilizer treatments had reduced (although non-significant) incidences of three key sugarcane insect pests. The economic benefits of polyhalite were reduced due to its higher cost relative to MOP. Combining MOP and polyhalite equally to achieve an application rate of 80 kg K ha−1 is recommended to enhance sugarcane growth and yield.
Highlights
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an important industrial crop, grown in tropical to sub-tropical climates, between 36.7◦ north and 31.0◦ south of the Equator [1,2,3]
Germination, cane height, cane width, the number of internodes per plant, the number of millable canes, the number of tillers per plant, the leaf-chlorophyll concentration, and the cane yield were all higher in experimental treatments which received potassium fertilizer (T2 –T5 ) than in the control (T1 ), regardless of the type of potassium fertilizer applied (Tables 4 and 5)
We have shown that potassium fertilizer applied as 80 kg K ha−1 of muriate of potash (MOP) alone improved sugarcane growth, yield, and quality parameters relative to a 0 kg K ha−1 control treatment and that these benefits were further enhanced when potassium fertilizer was applied at the same rate, but at an equal concentration (i.e., 40 kg K ha−1 for each) of MOP and polyhalite
Summary
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an important industrial crop, grown in tropical to sub-tropical climates, between 36.7◦ north and 31.0◦ south of the Equator [1,2,3]. Sugarcane is grown for both sugar extraction (meeting 75% of global sugar requirements) and for ethanol production [4,5,6]. Factors that limit yield and quality in this region are the poor use of nutrients, water stress, incidences of insect pests and disease, and poor-quality seed [8]. The unbalanced use of nutrients, and in particular of fertilizer potassium (potash), is a key challenge to achieving the potential yield of high-quality sugarcane [9].
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