Sugarcane Soil Research Articles

Potential for biological denitrification of fertilizer nitrogen in sugarcane soils

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is being lost from sugarcane soils following application to the crop. This study was conducted to estimate the quantity of N being lost from the soil through biological denitrification and to determine the proportion of gaseous N being emitted either as N2O or as N2. Field studies were conducted on four different soils (humic gley, alluvial massive earth, red earth and gleyed podzolic), and on different crop management systems, by installing plastic (PVC) cylinders (23.5 cm diam., 25 cm long) in the soil to a depth of 20 cm beside the plant row in a ratoon sugarcane crop. 15N-labelled KNO3 was applied as a band across each cylinder to a depth of 2.5 cm at a rate of 160 kg N/ha. After rainfall or irrigation, the cylinders were capped for 3 h intervals and gas in the headspace sampled in the morning and afternoon, for up to 4 days. Denitrification losses from the humic gley ranged from 247 g N/ha.day for cultivated plots to 1673 g N/ha.day for no-till plots. Over the sampling period, this was equivalent to 3.2% and 19.7% of the N applied, respectively. Nitrous oxide accounted for 46% to 78% of the total N lost. For the alluvial, massive earth and the red earth and gleyed podzolic, losses over the sampling period ranged from 25 to 117 g N/h.day and represented <1% of the N applied. Recovery of 15N in the soil ranged from 67% at the first sampling on the red earth soil to 4.9% at the third sampling on the alluvial, massive earth soil. In a glasshouse study, intact soil cores (23.5 cm diam., 20 cm long), taken from the humic gley and the alluvial, massive earth, were waterlogged after band application of 15N-labelled KNO3 at a rate of 160 kg N/ha. Gas samples from the headspace were taken after 3 h, and then morning and afternoon for the next 14 days. Denitrification losses ranged from 13.2 to 38.6% of N applied with the majority of gaseous N loss occurring as N2. Total recoveries after 14 days, including the evolved gases, ranged from 68.7 to 88.2%. We conclude that denitrification is a major cause of fertilizer N loss from fine-textured soils, with nitrous oxide the major gaseous N product when soil nitrate concentrations are high.

Evaluation of the washing system efficiency in sugar cane mills by neutron activation analysis.

The effectiveness of industrial washing operation in minimizing soil in sugar cane delivered to mills is evaluated. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was the nuclear analytical technique chosen for this work, with Fe, Hf, Sc, and Th selected as soil tracers. On the basis of differences between elemental concentration of integral and prepared cane, that is before and after washing, the feasibility of the method for evaluation of the washing efficiency is demonstrated.

Estudio sobre el pH y los componentes de fertilidad de los suelos dedicados al cultivo de la caña de azúcar en Puerto Rico.

A field survey was initiated in the main sugarcane production areas of Puerto Rico to determine the pH status of sugarcane soils and those specific soil factors that influence growth and development, such as exchangeable cations, percentage base saturation (% BS) and lime requirement. Soil samples from Coloso, Plata, Arecibo, Humacao, Yabucoa and Eureka areas were analyzed for pH, available P, Fe and Mn; exchangeable K, Ca, Mg and Al; percentage base saturation and lime requirements. Soil pH ranged from as low as 3.2 to a high of 8.1. Sixty-eight percent of the soil samples analyzed showed pH values below 5.5. The lowest soil pH values were observed in the Eureka area and the highest in Arecibo, whereas in the Coloso, Plata, Humacao and Yabucoa areas pH values were intermediate with readings between 4 and 5 as an average. Eighty percent of the soil samples from Plata, 40.0% of those from Eureka and 40.5% of those from Coloso had pH values below 4.5. All soil samples collected in Humacao and Yabucoa (except one) showed pH values below 5.5. No definite trend was observed when sugarcane yield per acre and soil pH for the Yabucoa-Humacao area were compared. In general, P and K were low in all regions sampled, whereas Ca and Mg values were higher in the Coloso than in the Yabucoa-Humacao regions. Soils from the Coloso region showed higher levels of exchangeable Al and higher percentages of Al saturation than soils from the Yabucoa-Humacao region. This fact, together with a lower % BS should aggravate acidity problems in the Coloso region. Percentage base saturation was good at the higher pH readings.

Enumeration of 2,4-D-degrading microorganisms in soils and crop plant rhizospheres using indicator media; high populations associated with sugarcane ([formula omitted

Population of microorganisms able to degrade 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate) were estimated in 4 non-rhizosphere and 5 rhizosphere soils in Natal by a most probable number (MPN) method using 2,4-D-bromocresol purple media to show 2,4-D degradation with the formation of HC1. Confirmation of herbicide degradation in acid 2,4-D tubes was required by subculturing into fresh 2,4-D-and control indicator media. The MPN estimates of 2,4-D-degrading organisms per g of corresponding rhizosphere/control soils were 6100/212 with African clover (Trifolium africanum L.) soils, and 46400178, 1560001480 and 407006170 with sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) soils. The high, stimulated populations of 2,4-D-degrading microorganisms in the sugarcane rhizospheres suggest the possibility of rapid degradaton in the rhizosphere as an additional mechanism for the protection of certain plants against soil-applied herbicides.

Phenoxy herbicide degradation in soils: Quantitative studies of 2,4-D- and MCPA-degrading microbial populations

Microbial populations able to degrade 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate) and MCPA (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetate) were enumerated by means of a most probable number (MPN) procedure in eight Natal soils not previously treated with these herbicides. Estimated 2,4-D-degrading populations ranged from 1.26 to 245.2 and MCPA-degrading populations from 0.34 to 1377 g −1 dry soil; in seven of the soils the populations of these organisms were less than 40 and 30 g −1, respectively. Such counts indicate that for the successful isolation of 2,4-D- or MCPA-degrading microorganisms from soil, at least 1 g dry weight of soil should be used for enrichment cultures. The 2,4-D-degrading organisms occurred among the aerobic soil bacteria detectable by plate count, at frequencies of only 1 in 30 × 10 3 to 1 in 36 × 10 6 and the MCPA-degrading organisms at frequencies of 1 in 5 × 10 3 to 1 in 133 × 10 6; the ease with which the herbicide-degrading organisms can be isolated from enriched soil cultures treated with 2,4-D or MCPA is evidence of their massive preferential proliferation in response to the herbicides. Log 2,4-D- and MCPA-degrading populations did not differ significantly in four soil samples, but in the others either the 2,4-D- or the MCPA-degrading population was dominant. The longer persistence of MCPA compared with that of 2,4-D could therefore not be ascribed to quantitative differences in the populations of MCPA- and 2,4-D-degrading soil microorganisms. No relationship was evident between the soil populations of 2,4-D- or MCPA-degrading microorganisms and aerobic soil bacteria, and variations of the three populations among the soil samples were not associated in any obvious way with the soil physical and chemical characteristics, except perhaps an association of the highest counts of herbicide-degrading organisms with a sugar cane soil of sandy texture and high C: N ratio.

The adsorption and degradation of glyphosate in five Hawaiian sugarcane soils*

Summary:The rate of aerobic evolution of 14CO2 from 14C‐glyphosate labelled in the methylphosphonyl carbon, varied 100‐fold within a group of five Hawaiian sugarcane soils. The rate depended inversely on the degree of soil binding, probably associated with the phosphonic acid moiety, and to a less certain extent on soil pH and soil organic matter. After an initial rapid degradation, the rate of 14CO2 evolution in three soils reached a constant at 16–21 days which continued to the 60‐day termination. The other two soils showed a continually decreasing rate throughout. Two soils released over 50% of the labelled carbon in 60 days, a third released 35%, while the remaining soils released 1.2 and 0.8% respectively.Labelled carbon in the soils after 60 days consisted of glyphosate and one metabolite, aminomethyl‐phosphonic acid, with glyphosate predominating in high fixing soils. The 14C could be extracted almost completely with NaOH solution, and remained mainly in solution after acidification.

Effect of some nitrification suppressants on nitrification of urea and its implication on growth and nitrogen nutrition of sugarcane

In laboratory incubation studies 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methyl pyrimidine (AM) and 2-sulfanilamidothiazole (ST) gave partial control of nitrification in soil. In a pot experiment, millable cane yield, dry matter synthesis, and nitrogen uptake were significantly increased by these chemicals. The results are discussed with respect to suppression of nitrification as related to concentration of inorganic nitrogen in soil and growth of sugarcane.

Soil Lipids under Various Crops

AbstractTwo parent materials of soils; namely tertiary sandstone and mudstone, as well as several soils planted with various crops were investigated by means of thin‐layer chromatography and gas chromatography for their lipid content. The total free fatty acids were found in greater quantity and variety than the fatty acids of the triglycerides of most of the materials studied. In addition to small amounts of many acids having odd numbers of C‐atoms, the predominant free fatty acids were myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, and arachidic acids. The sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) soils invariably showed some large characteristic peaks of unknown compounds on the gas chromatograms, whereas the soils planted with paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.), banana (Musa paradisiaca), or pineapple (Ananas comosus) did not show any characteristic component. In all of the soils, there were many unknown peaks on the chromatograms of the methyl esters of both the free fatty acids and the fatty acids of the triglycerides. They could be iso acids, ante‐iso acids, and branched fatty acids derived from micro‐organisms. Paraffinic hydrocarbons frequently appeared. In some soils, an unknown nonpolar compound and dioctyl phthalate were found. The latter might be also of microbial origin. The sandstone and mudstone contain fewer lipids. The relationship between the composition of the lipids and the characteristics of the soils is not obvious.

Título en español.

El abonamiento abundante y las aplicaciones variables de cal a un suelo Cialitos arcilloso (ultisol) durante 7 años consecutivos afectaron marcadamente las propiedades de este suelo y los rendimientos de la caña de azúcar que se sembró luego. Durante el período, las aplicaciones de abono por acre a todas las parcelas fueron 3,680 libras de nitrógeno, 480 de fósforo y 2,870 de potasa. Los rendimientos de la caña aumentaron de menos de 1 tonelada por acre cuando no se aplicó cal, a 40 toneladas cuando se aplicaron 20 toneladas de cal por acre, durante el período de 7 años. Los rendimientos aumentaron, según aumentó el contenido de bases intercambiables en el suelo, de menos de 10 toneladas por acre cuando el contenido era inferior a 3 meq./100 g. de suelo, a más de 40 toneladas cuando estas bases excedieron a 8 meq./100 g. de suelo (58 por ciento de saturación). Los rendimientos aumentaron, según fue disminuyendo el aluminio intercambiable en el suelo, de menos de 10 toneladas por acre, cuando este elemento excedió de 8 meq./100 g. de suelo, a más de 40 toneladas, cuando el contenido de aluminio fue menor de 2 meq./100 g. de suelo. Los rendimientos aumentaron según fue aumentando el pH del suelo, pero la presencia de sales solubles en este suelo, tan abundantemente abonado, hizo que el grado de pH fuera un criterio inadecuado para determinar la necesidad de aplicar cal. La aplicación de 8 toneladas de cal sobre la superficie de un suelo Cialitos arcilloso muy ácido, antes de sembrar la caña, aumentó el rendimiento de ésta de un promedio de 12.4 a 34.5 toneladas por acre y redujo el contenido de aluminio intercambiable de 7.3 a 0.5 meq./100 g. de suelo. Tanto la composición foliar de la caña de 9 meses, como su contenido de sacarosa, no fueron afectados por los factores de suelo que se estudiaron o por las aplicaciones de cal, y continuaron a niveles satisfactorios en las parcelas experimentales de las cuales se obtuvieron producciones, de aproximadamente 0 a más de 40 toneladas de caña por acre. En un reconocimiento que se hizo se encontró que muchos de los suelos que se dedican a la producción de la caña de azúcar en la Región Húmeda del País contenían una cantidad de aluminio intercambiable mayor que la que causó una reducción en el rendimiento de la caña en el experimento que aquí se describe y que se llevó a cabo en un suelo Cialitos arcilloso.

Sugarcane Growth Responses to Chlordane and Microarthropods and Effects of Chlordane on Soil Fauna1

Since 1954 many Louisiana sugarcane growers have applied chlordane to the soil at planting time to control wireworms in light soils and a miscellaneous group of small animals in heavy soils. From field and laboratory studies it is concluded that, while beneficial effects of chlordane on sugarcane yields may sometimes be found. such effects are usually small and difficult to measure. Furthermore, soil application of chlordane reduces earthworm populations in cane fields. where small increases in sugarcane growth are associated with the application of chlordane to the soil, it seems likely that the stimulating effects of chlordane on plant growth may be at least as important as the control of any arthropod pests. Collembola and Acarina are the most abundant and widely distributed arthropods present in the sugarcane soils of Louisiana.

Soils of the Sugarcane Development Centres in Coimbatore District (Madras)

Coimbatore district is the third largest sugarcane growing tract in the Madras State, with 45,846 acres under sugarcane, the major portion of which extends over the taluks of Coimbatore and Udumalpet. The soil survey of sugarcane tracts was undertaken during the year 1961-62 and was confined to the sugarcane soils of these two taluks alone the results of which are presented. The object of the survey was to classify the soils of the cane areas of the district into major broad soil divisions.

Herbicide Adsorption Studies, Adsorption and Leaching of Herbicides in Hawaiian Sugarcane Soils

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTHerbicide Adsorption Studies, Adsorption and Leaching of Herbicides in Hawaiian Sugarcane SoilsH. W. Hilton and Q. H. YuenCite this: J. Agric. Food Chem. 1966, 14, 1, 86–90Publication Date (Print):January 1, 1966Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 January 1966https://doi.org/10.1021/jf60143a027RIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views52Altmetric-Citations5LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (584 KB) Get e-Alerts Get e-Alerts

Significance of Extractable Aluminum in Hawaiian Sugarcane Soils

AbstractAluminum was extracted with water and solutions of NH4OAc, pH 4.8, and KCl from Humic, Hydrol Humic, and Humic Ferruginous Latosols (some of which are considered potential commercial sources of Al) as well as from certain less weathered soils. Exchangeable Al appeared to account for only a small fraction of the Al extracted from some of the more highly weathered soils. NH4OAc‐soluble Al increased markedly with degree of weathering of the soil, but this was not true of KCl‐ or water‐soluble Al. Within each great soil group Al, soluble in all three extractants, increased many times with decreasing soil pH. Concentrations of Al in water extracts did not exceed 2.5 ppm; in soils of pH 5.0 or above, concentrations seldom were in excess of 0.1 ppm. The addition of limestone effectively decreased levels of both NH4OAc‐ and water‐soluble Al. These results, coupled with field observations, have led to the conclusion that Al levels in Hawaiian soils are not sufficiently high to repress the growth of sugarcane.

Hoplolaimus puertoricensis n.sp. (Nematoda: Hoplolaimidae)

Among the parasitic nematodes found on sugarcane soils in Puerto Rico, a new species of the genus Hoplolaimus was found on soil samples from the Luce & Co. sugarcane fields, in Santa Isabel. A description of the nematode Hoplolaimus puertoricensis, as well as figure 1 illustrating it, are given in this article.

Soil Adsorption of Herbicides, Adsorption of Serveral Pre-emergence Herbicides by Hawaiian Sugar Cane Soils

Soil Adsorption of Herbicides, Adsorption of Serveral Pre-emergence Herbicides by Hawaiian Sugar Cane Soils

Título en español.

El uso continuo del sulfato amónico como fuente de nitrógeno para el abonamiento de la caña de azúcar ha causado un descenso del valor pH del suelo y cambios en los nutrientes disponibles en el tipo de suelo Vega Alta arcilloso lómico, como sigue: 1. Al aumentar las proporciones de sulfato amónico en los abonos, bajaron los valores pH en todos los horizontes del suelo, desde 0-6 hasta 12-18 pulgadas. 2. El calcio disponible se redujo al aumentar las cantidades de sulfato amónico en todos los horizontes del suelo, desde 0 hasta 18 pulgadas. 3. Fue leve la pérdida del magnesio disponible en el suelo cuando se comparó con el calcio, lo cual dio lugar a que se estrecharan las razones calciomagnesio en la superficie (0-6 pulgadas) del suelo. 4. Con el aumento en acidez hubo grandes aumentos del magnesio, hierro y aluminio solubles en todos los horizontes del suelo. 5. La cantidad de magnesio soluble fue mucho mayor que la de hierro, lo cual dio lugar a razones de hierro a manganeso de menos de 1. 6. El rápido descenso del valor pH del suelo debido a los aumentos de las cantidades aplicadas de sulfato amónico se evidenció no sólo en el experimento de 18 años, si que también en el que solamente tiene 3 1/2 años de instalado en el mismo campo. 7. En un suelo del tipo Vayas arcilloso con un pH de 8 no bajó marcadamente, en grado alguno, el valor pH en 19 años por el uso continuo de sulfato amónico. 8. La aplicación del sulfato amónico a la hilera de caña en vez de a los espacios entre hileras causó que fueran más bajos los valores pH en el suelo de las hileras que en el de entre hileras.

Soil Adsorption of Herbicides, The Adsorption of Monuron and Diuron by Hawaiian Sugarcane Soils

Soil Adsorption of Herbicides, The Adsorption of Monuron and Diuron by Hawaiian Sugarcane Soils

九州の線虫相より(2)

1. Among the nematodes found in Kyushu and identified by the authors, the following are re markable from the viewpoint of nematode distribution and parasitism: (1) Pratylenchus loosi, tea root, Higashi-sonogi Town, Nagasaki Pref., (2) P. coffeae, Citrus root, Tarumizu City, Kagoshima Pref., (3) Radopholus oryzae (?), paddy field (in dry condition), Aino Town, Nagasaki Pref., (4) Tylenchorhynchus claytoni, azalea soil, Kusano Town, Kurume City, Fukuoka Pref., (5) Tylenchorhynchus sp., soybean field, Yabe Town, Kumamoto Pref., (6) Tylenchorhynchus ? sp., sugar cane soil, Okino-erabuzima, Kagoshima Pref.2. In regard to root-lesion nematodes, four species have been found in Kyushu, that is, Pratylenchus coffeae, P. vulnus, P. zeae and P. loosi.

A new species of catenaria parasitic on nematodes of sugarcane

A new species,Catenaria vermicola, is named and described. It attacks several plant-parasitic nematodes of economic importance in sugarcane soils of Louisiana. The fungus forms numerous zoospores which encyst on the cuticle, generally near natural openings of the nematode, thereby causing infection. Within the parasitized nematodes hyphae and sporangia quickly form and destroy the victim completely. The following plant-parasitic nematodes were attacked and destroyed:Belonolaimus longicaudatus, Criconemoides rusticum, Hemicycliophora gigas, Hoplolaimus tylenchiformis, Meloidogyne larvae,Pratylenchus brachyurus, P. zeae, Radopholus similis, Tylenchulus semipenetrans larvae,Tylenchorhynchus martini, andXiphinema chambersi.

Título en español.

Se presentan aquí los datos de dos experimentos de campo, que incluyen cinco cosechas de caña, y los cuales fueron sembrados en un suelo de aluvión con desagüe imperfecto en Río Piedras, costa norte de Puerto Rico, y de dos experimentos con tres cosechas de caña en un suelo laterítico de la zona de Isabela, en las llanuras costaneras del noroeste. En ambos sitios, la caña se sembró en hileras a 4 y a 8 pies de distancia. En algunas parcelas la caña se sembró sola y en otras se intercaló con otros cultivos, tales como habichuelas soyas, habichuelas coloradas del país, habichuelas blancas del país, pepinillos, fríjoles, melones y tomates. El estudio estadístico de los datos obtenidos revela que la caña sembrada en hileras a 4 pies de distancia rinde más azúcar que la que se siembra a 8 pies, no importa que esté sola o intercalada con otras cosechas. Las plantas leguminosas, tales como las soyas, fríjoles, habichuelas coloradas y habichuelas blancas del país pueden intercalarse ventajosamente con la caña. Los pepinillos, melones y tomates, también pueden sembrarse en asociación con las plantas jóvenes de caña sin temor a que ocurra una reducción en la producción del azúcar. El maíz, intercalado con la caña, no es recomendable, pues reduce la producción de azúcar de la caña. Tanto técnica como económicamente es posible usar los suelos que se dedican a la caña con cultivos intercalados, práctica esta que debería recibir mayor consideración como uno de los medios para aumentar la producción de alimentos en la Isla sin tener que utilizar terrenos adicionales.