Source: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA submitted to NRP
SUGARCANE NUTRITION IN FLORIDA
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0228246
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2011
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2016
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
G022 MCCARTY HALL
GAINESVILLE,FL 32611
Performing Department
Everglades Research and Education Center, Belle Glade
Non Technical Summary
The Florida sugarcane industry produces about 24% of the total sugar produced in the U.S. and has an annual income over $800 million. Sugarcane is Florida's most economically valuable field crop with approximately 158,000 hectares in production in and adjacent to the Everglades Agricultural Area. Florida sugarcane growers are being pressured by economic and environmental concerns, and so there is a strong need to evaluate all cultural practices, including fertilizer applications, in terms of cost-effectiveness and impacts on water quality. Over the last several years there have been efforts to revise and update sugarcane fertilizer recommendations and this work needs to be continued. Updating recommendations is vital because of changes in soils over time, improvements or changes in fertilizer materials, changes in economic conditions, increasing yields of new sugarcane varieties, and improvements in our understanding of soil-plant relationships. Research with improving the sustainability of sugarcane production in south Florida is particularly important because of the soils of the region. Currently 80% of Florida sugarcane is produced on organic soils that are subsiding at a rate of 1.4 cm/year and 20% is produced on mineral soils with low organic matter content. These mineral soils have a low capacity to hold water and nutrients which makes nutrient management critical. Research and extension efforts are needed to help growers conserve organic matter in these soils to ensure the sustainability of sugarcane production in south Florida. The outlined research will result in revised or updated recommendations of fertilizers and amendments used for sugarcane production on organic and mineral soils in Florida. With increased costs of fertilizers in recent years, growers have renewed interest in evaluation of fertilizer rates that are appropriate for current soil conditions and cultivars. Sound nutrient management is essential for south Florida to ensure water quality standards are met. The results of this research will have impacts that will be of benefit in terms of increased cost-effectiveness of fertilization for growers and maintenance of water quality for the environment. Results will allow growers to have improved nutrient management and to be better equipped to make informed decisions regarding fertilizers, amendments, and cropping systems. Research will be disseminated to growers through on-line extension publications, and through workshops, seminars, and field days. Grower surveys will be used to determine the effectiveness of the research results and the rate of adoption of revised recommendations.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
10220201010100%
Goals / Objectives
The objectives are to (1) update IFAS fertilizer recommendations for K and elemental S for organic soils and for P, K, Mg, and Si for mineral soils to provide for effective and environmentally sound use of fertilizers, (2) evaluate potential fertilizer and amendment sources including organic amendments and industrial by-products for nutritional benefit to sugarcane and to ensure that applications do not harm water quality, and (3) evaluate methods of sustaining sugarcane as a viable crop on mineral and organic soils through the use of rotational crops or other improvements in cropping systems. Field experiments of either small-plot comparisons or field-scale comparisons will be used to reach the objectives. Progress will be communicated to growers through workshops, seminars, and field days. Products will include scientific journal articles and on-line extension documents so that growers can have access to the latest recommendations.
Project Methods
Objective 1 will be accomplished with (a) a potassium rate study on organic soils using K rates of 0, 46, 93, 116, 139, 163, 186, 232, and 279 kg K/ha/year in small-plots at five locations, (b) an elemental sulfur study on organic soils using banded S rates of 0, 90, 224, and 448 kg S/ha in small-plots in four locations, (c) a nitrogen rate study on mineral soils using N rates of 157, 202, 246 291, and 336 N/ha/year in small-plots at four locations and N rates of 0, 67, 134, 202, and 269 kg N/ha/year in small-plots at one location, (d) a silicon rate study on mineral soils using Si rates of 2.2, 4.5, and 6.7 tons Ca silicate/ha, (e) a magnesium study on mineral soils using various sources and rates of Mg, and (f) phosphorus and potassium rate studies on mineral soils using P rates ranging from 0 to 73 kg P/ha/year and K rates ranging from 0 to 279 kg K/ha in small plot studies at multiple locations. Objective 2 will be accomplished with (a) a study of compost application on mineral soil in a small-plot study of 0 and 113 cubic meters compost/sewage sludge, (b) a study of vinasse (by-product of ethanol production) application to organic soil in large 3 m by 4 m lysimeters to determine the usefulness as a potassium source and influence on water quality, and (c) studies of other amendment sources based on availability and grower interest. Objective 3 will be accomplished with a cropping system study with green harvest (sugarcane harvest without pre-burning) and with green manure rotation crops on mineral soils. In all studies there will be determination of tons cane/ha, tons sucrose/ha, and kg sucrose/ton cane, in addition to appropriate analysis of soil and leaf samples for nutrients. All studies will be evaluated using appropriate statistical methods with emphasis on cost/benefit of fertilizers and amendments. Results of studies will be disseminated to growers through workshops, seminars, and field days.

Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project includes growers and managers in the sugarcane industry in Florida as well as governmental agencies and other groups or individuals that may be impacted by research in sugarcane nutrient management. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Within the last 5 years I have advised two Master's degree students. One of these students graduated in 2013 after working on sugarcane yield response to elemental sulfur on alkaline soils. The other student is currently conducting research on the relationships of soil and sugarcane leaf P and K on mineral soils. Also, I have hosted 6short-term scholars within the last 6 years. These were students from Portugal, El Salvador, Honduras, and Brazil. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In 2016, presentations were made to the University of Florida Agronomy Department (Feb. 18, sugarcane response to nitrogen and elemental sulfur), certified crop advisors (Apr. 13, soils and nutrition of sugarcane), annual BMP training session for growers and managers (Apr. 14 and Sep. 29, soil fertility and plant nutrition BMPs), and to growers and faculty (Dec. 2, sugarcane yield response to potassium and elemental sulfur). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Studies will be continued on P and K rates and fertilizer source materials for sugarcane on mineral soils. A new rice trial evaluating P and K fertilizer application is planned. Recently completed projects will be summarized, published, and used to update recommendations.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Updating sugarcane fertilizer recommendations is an important goal of this program. These revisions will provide growers with information they need to make cost-effective nutrient management decisions that will also protect water quality. Objective 1 is to update IFAS fertilizer recommendations for K and elemental S for organic soils and for N, P, K, Mg, and Si for mineral soils. Results of the nitrogen rate study have been published and nitrogen recommendations for sand soils have been revised. New recommendations for plant cane are 246 kg N/ha in 5 split applications. New recommendations for ratoon cane are 224kg N/ha in 4 split applications. Field studies have been completed for K and elemental S on organic soil and for Si on mineral soil and work is proceeding for publishing results from these studies soon. Field work has been completed for the Mehlich 3 P validation trial on organic soil and results have confirmed that for the trial location the revised phosphorus recommendations are valid. One new small-plot location of the P and K rate studies on mineral soil was established in fall 2015 and this study is expected to continue for another 3 to 4 years. Objective 2 is to evaluate potential fertilizer and amendment sources for nutritional benefit to sugarcane. We are evaluating various N, P, and K fertilizer materials. Materials tested currently or previously include Vitag (16-0-2, ammonium sulfate + biosolids); Mosaic MES15 and MESZ, Crystal Green, and coated controlled release TSP (P fertilizers); and three Mosaic materials with micronutrients added to muriate of potash. Generally, some of these materials are effective alternatives to other sources but have not been found to have an advantage to traditional commercial fertilizer sources. Objective 3 is to evaluate methods of sustaining sugarcane as a viable crop on mineral and organic soils through the use of rotational crops or other improvements in cropping systems. In 2016 we conducted two trials with rice which is a rotational crop for sugarcane. In the first trial evaluating P and K treatments there was no response to either of the applied nutrients. There has been no consistent response to P, K, Mn, Zn, Cu, or B in any of the rice trials conducted in the last four years. The second trial compared two sources of silicon for rice but extractable soil Si was higher than expected in the test location and there was no yield response to Si application. Silicon trials over the last four years have confirmed the importance of maintaining adequate Si availability for rice and the importance of soil testing for Si availability. These trials also confirmed that sugarcane mill ash is not a good source of Si for rice and that calcium silicate is a good source of Si for rice.Updating sugarcane fertilizer recommendations is an important goal of this program. These revisions will provide growers with information they need to make cost-effective nutrient management decisions that will also protect water quality. ?

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Kaler, A. S., J. M. McCray, A. L. Wright, and J. E. Erickson. 2016. Nutrient availability response to sulfur amendment in Histosols having variable calcium carbonates. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 47 (19):2178-2188.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: McCray, J. M., and G. Powell. 2016. Sugarcane yield response to potassium on a Florida Histosol. J. Am. Soc. Sugarcane Technologists 36:9-18.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Kaler, A. S., J. M. McCray, A. L. Wright, and J. E. Erickson. 2016. Sugarcane yield and plant nutrient response to sulfur-amended Everglades Histosols. J. Plant Nutrition. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2016.1218024
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Sandhu, H., M. P. Singh, and J. M. McCray. 2016. Use of apparent soil electrical conductivity to improve sugarcane nutrient management in Florida. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technologists. Accepted.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: McCray, J. M., S. Ji, and M. Ulloa. 2017. Influence of compost sludge application on sugarcane yield and nitrogen requirement on a sand soil. Accepted.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Cherry, R., J. M. McCray, and H. Sandhu. 2017. Changes in the relative abundance of soil insect pests in Florida sugarcane. J. Entomological Soc. Accepted.


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project includes growers and managers in the sugarcane industry in Florida as well as governmental agencies and othergroups or individuals that may be impacted by research in sugarcane nutrient management. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We had a short-term scholar from Brazil visit in fall 2015 who assisted with the P and K sugarcane trials as well as other projects. I also attended and made a presentation at the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists meetings in June 2015. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Presentations were made to the Florida Fruit and Vegetables farm tour (Mar 25: sugarcane fertilization and nutrition), a sugarcane growers meeting on sugarcane nutrition(Feb 27: nitrogen fertilization), an annual BMP training session for growers and managers (Sep 25: soil fertility and plant nutrition BMPs), training for managers of a large local grower on soils and nutrition of Florida sugarcane (Sep 25), and a seminar for personnel of the South Florida Water Management District on soil test P calibration (Oct 5). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Studies will be continued on P and K rates and materials for sugarcane on mineral soils as well as P rates on organic soils. A new rice trial comparing silicon sources is planned. Results for recently completed projects will be summarized, published, and used to update recommendations.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Updating sugarcane fertilizer recommendations is an important goal of this program. These revisions will provide growers with information they need to make cost-effective nutrient management decisions that will also protect water quality. Objective 1 is to update IFAS fertilizer recommendations for K and elemental S for organic soils and for N, P, K, Mg, and Si for mineral soils. Results of the nitrogen rate study have been published and proposed recommendations for sand soils were recently approved by the IFAS Plant Nutrient Oversight Committee. Revised recommendations for plant cane are 246 kg N/ha in 5 split applications. Revised recommendations for ratoon cane are 202 kg N/ha in 4 split applications. Field studies have been completed for K and elemental S on organic soil and for Si on mineral soil. Field studies are ongoing for P and K on mineral soil as well as for validation of the Mehlich 3 extraction for P recommendations on organic soil. One new small-plot location of the P and K rate studies on mineral soil was established in fall 2015. Objective 2 is to evaluate potential fertilizer and amendment sources for nutritional benefit to sugarcane. We are evaluating various N, P, and K fertilizer materials. These include Vitag (16-0-2, ammonium sulfate + biosolids); Mosaic MES15 and MESZ, Crystal Green, and coated controlled release TSP (P fertilizers); and three Mosaic materials with micronutrients added to muriate of potash. Objective 3 is to evaluate methods of sustaining sugarcane as a viable crop on mineral and organic soils through the use of rotational crops or other improvements in cropping systems. In 2015 we conducted two trials with rice which is a rotational crop for sugarcane. One trial included P, K, and micronutrient treatments. There was no response to any of the applied nutrients. There has been no consistent response to P, K, Mn, Zn, Cu, or B in any of the rice trials conducted in the last three years. The second trial compared sources of silicon for rice. This trial confirmed that sugarcane mill ash is not a good source of Si for rice, but because of field variability more work is needed to determine alternative sources of Si slag for rice.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: McCray, J. M., S. Ji, and L. E. Baucum. 2015. Sugarcane yield response to furrow-applied organic amendments on sand soils. Int. J. Agron. vol. 2015, Article ID 426387, 9 pages. doi: 10.1155/20150426387.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Crusciol, A. C. C., R. Foltran, O. B. Rossato, J. M. McCray, and R. Rossetto. 2014. Effects of surface application of calcium-magnesium silicate and gypsum on soil fertility and sugarcane yield. R. Bras. Ci. Solo 38:1843-1854.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: McCray, J. M., S. Ji, A. L. Wright, R. W. Rice, and C. Crusciol. 2015. Sugarcane yield response to elemental sulfur on organic soils in Florida. American Society of Sugarcane Technologists Annual Meetings (abstract). New Orleans, LA. June 2015.


Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience for this project includes growers and managers in the sugarcane industry in Florida as well as governmental agencies and other groups or individuals that may be impacted by research in sugarcane nutrient management. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? We had one short-term scholar from Brazil visit in fall 2014 who assisted with the P and K sugarcane trials as well as other projects. I also attended and made a presentation at the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists meetings in June 2014. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Presentations were made to the Florida Fruit and Vegetables Association farm tour (Mar 26: sugarcane fertilization and nutrition), a sugarcane growers meeting on nitrogen fertilization (Apr 15: sugarcane yield response to nitrogen), an annual BMP training session for growers and managers (Sep 25: soil fertility and plant nutrition BMPs), and astraining for managers of a large local grower on soils and nutrition of Florida sugarcane (Oct 2). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Studies will be continued on P and K rates and materials for sugarcane on mineral soils as well as P rates on organic soils. New fertility trials with rice will also be conducted. Results for recently completed projects will be summarized, published, and used to update recommendations.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Updating sugarcane fertilizer recommendations is an important goal of this program. These revisions will provide growers with information they need to make cost-effective nutrient management decisions that will also protect water quality. Objective 1 is to update IFAS fertilizer recommendations for K and elemental S for organic soils and for N, P, K, Mg, and Si for mineral soils. Results of the nitrogen rate study have been published and proposed recommendations for sand soils will be presented for approval by the IFAS Plant Nutrient Oversight Committee. Proposed recommendations for plant cane are 202-252 kg N/ha in 4-5 split applications. Proposed recommendations for ratoon cane are 179-230 kg N/ha in 3-4 split applications. Field studies have been completed for K and elemental S on organic soil and for Si on mineral soil. Field studies are ongoing for P and K on mineral soil as well as for validation of the Mehlich 3 extraction for P recommendations on organic soil. Two new small-plot locations of the P and K rate studies on mineral soil were established in fall 2014. Objective 2 is to evaluate potential fertilizer and amendment sources for nutritional benefit to sugarcane. We now have several studies evaluating potential new fertilizer materials. We are evaluating controlled release N and K fertilizers in a trial designed to develop an optimum sandland fertilizer program that would reduce total N applied and also reduce the number of applications per year. We are also evaluating various N, P, and K fertilizer materials. These include Vitag (16-0-2, ammonium sulfate + biosolids); Mosaic MES15 and MESZ, Crystal Green, and coated controlled release TSP (P fertilizers); and three Mosaic materials with micronutrients added to muriate of potash. Objective 3 is to evaluate methods of sustaining sugarcane as a viable crop on mineral and organic soils through the use of rotational crops or other improvements in cropping systems. In 2014 we conducted one trial with rice which is a rotational crop for sugarcane. This trial included P, K, and micronutrient treatments. There was a yield response to potassium but the trial needs to be repeated in other locations to confirm the response and to determine appropriate recommendations for growers.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Julian, P., B. Gu, R. Frydenborg, T. Lange, A. L. Wright, and J. M. McCray. 2014. Chapter 3B: Mercury and sulfur environmental assessment for the Everglades. (In) 2015 South Florida Environmental Report p. 3B-1 - 3B-59. South Florida Water Management District. West Palm Beach, FL.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: McCray, J. M., K. T. Morgan, L. Baucum, and S. Ji. 2014. Sugarcane yield response to nitrogen on sand soils. Agron. J. 106:1461-1469.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: McCray, J. M., K. T. Morgan, L. E. Baucum, and S. Ji. 2014. Sugarcane yield response to nitrogen on mineral soils in Florida. American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Annual Meetings (abstract). Bonita Springs, FL. June 2014.


Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience for this project includes growers and managers in the sugarcane industry in Florida as well as governmental agencies and other groups or individuals that may be impacted by research in sugarcane nutrient management. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? We had one graduate student (MS) who participated in the elemental sulfur study and graduated in summer 2013. We also had a visiting scientist from China who participated in the study of controlled release nitrogen fertilizer. Also, I attended and made a presentation at the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Congress in Brazil in June 2013 and I attended and made a presentation at the American Society of Agronomy meetings in November 2013. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Two University of Florida electronic bulletins (EDIS) were reviewed and updated in 2013. Also, I made a presentation on soil fertility and plant nutrition BMPs at the annual BMP training for growers and managers in September. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Studies will be continuing on K on organic soils and on P and K on mineral soils. New fertility trials with rice will also be conducted. Results for recently completed projects will be summarized, published, and used to update recommendations.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The nitrogen rate study on mineral soils and the elemental sulfur study on organic soils have been completed and these studies are now in the reporting and publication phase. The ultimate result of this process will be revised fertilizer recommendations for nitrogen and sulfur which have been needed for many years. Thes revisions will provide growers with information they need to make more cost-effective nutrient management decisions that will also protect water quality. Objective 1 is to update IFAS fertilizer recommendations for K and elemental S for organic soils and for N, P, K, Mg, and Si for mineral soils. The elemental S project was completed and proposed recommendations are to apply 280-560 kg S/ha in the furrow at planting with pH>7.5 and to apply 112-280 kg S/ha with pH 7.2-7.4. Proposed recommendations also suggest applying 112 kg STM5 (80% S + 5% Mn)/ha in the furrow at planting with pH 6.6-7.1 and Mehlich 3-extractable Mn<5.0 g/m3. The nitrogen rate study on mineral soils has been completed and there were yield responses to higher N rates than the current N recommendations of 202 kg N/ha. Proposed N recommendations for plant and ratoon crops are 202-252 kg N/ha in 4-5 split applications and 172-222 kg N/ha in 3-4 split applications, respectively. Field studies are ongoing with K on organic soil and P, K, Mg, and Si on mineral soil. Currently we have one location of the K rate (0-279 kg K/ha/yr) study on organic soil and have completed field work at four locations. We now have three locations each of the P (0-61 kg P/ha/yr) and K (0-279 kg/ha/yr) rate studies on mineral soil. Field work is almost completed for the Si study (0-6.72 Mg calcium silicate/ha at planting) on mineral soil. There have been strong yield responses to calcium silicate on mineral soil and the results will be compiled with previous Si trials in the development of Si recommendations for mineral soils. Objective 2 is to evaluate potential fertilizer and amendment sources for nutritional benefit to sugarcane. There are several new studies that have been established to evaluate potential new fertilizer materials. There are several new studies that have been established to evaluate potential new fertilizer materials. We are evaluating controlled release N and K fertilizers in a trial designed to develop an optimum sandland fertilizer program that would reduce total N applied and also reduce the number of applications per year. We are also evaluating various P and K fertilizer materials as part of our P and K rate studies. Phosphorus materials include Mosaic MES15 and MESZ, Crystal Green, and coated controlled release TSP. Potassium materials include three Mosaic materials with micronutrients added to muriate of potash. Objective 3 is to evaluate methods of sustaining sugarcane as a viable crop on mineral and organic soils through the use of rotational crops or other improvements in cropping sytems. We conducted two fertility trials with rice which is a rotational crop for sugarcane. In one of these there was no rice yield response to either P or K fertilizer on organic soil. In the other trial there was a strong yield response to Si on organic soil. In that trial calcium silicate slag was the best source of Si and provided the strongest yield response. Mill ash increased rice yield compared to the control but yields were lower than with Ca silicate. Zumsil was not an acceptable source of Si and did not increase rice yield compared to the control.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: McCray, J. M., and S. Ji. 2013. Comparison of silicon sources for sugarcane on mineral and organic soils in Florida. J. Am. Soc. Sugar Cane Technologists 33:1-19.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: McCray, J. M., and R. W. Rice. 2013. Sugarcane yield response to elemental sulfur on high pH organic soils. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technologists 28:280-287.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: McCray, J. M., and R. Mylavarapu. 2013 (Revision). Sugarcane nutrient management using leaf analysis. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet SS-AGR-335. UF/IFAS Electronic Data Information Service (EDIS) Database. Available at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag345. University of Florida, Gainesville.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: McCray, J. M., R. W. Rice, I. Ezenwa, T. Lang, and L. Baucum. 2013 (Revision). Sugarcane plant nutrient diagnosis. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet SS-AGR-128. UF/IFAS Electronic Data Information Service (EDIS) Database. Available at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sc075. University of Florida, Gainesville.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: McCray, J. M., and K. T. Morgan. 2013. Sugarcane yield and water quality impact of vinasse from ethanol production used for sugarcane fertilization. American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Annual Meetings (abstract). Panama City, FL. June 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: McCray, J. M., K. T. Morgan, and L. Baucum. 2013. Sugarcane yield response to nitrogen on mineral soils in Florida. American Society of Agronomy Annual Meetings (abstract). Tampa, FL. Nov. 2013.


Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Field work was completed for the nitrogen rate study on mineral soils. This included multiple crop years at each of four locations. Preliminary results were presented at a grower workshop in April and the information gained in this study will be used to update University of Florida nitrogen recommendations for sugarcane. Field work was completed for the organic materials study on minerals soils and results from this study were presented at an international workshop (ISSCT) in Australia in September. The organic materials study showed that the most consistent sugarcane yield responses were determined with broadcast applications of mill mud and compost/sewage sludge. Field work was also completed for the lysimeter vinasse study on organic soil which determined that vinasse by-product of ethanol made from sugarcane molasses could be applied to supply 1.5 times the potassium requirement without decrease in sugar production and without water quality impairment. Field work is almost complete in the elemental sulfur study on organic soils. This work is being done to update sulfur recommendations for high pH organic soils for increasing micronutrient availability. Preliminary results were presented at the American Society of Agronomy meetings in Cincinnati in October and annual updates have been made for growers at BMP training sessions locally. Small-plot studies that are continuing are the potassium rate study on organic soils (5 sites), and studies with silicon and magnesium on mineral soils (1 site each). New small-plot studies are rate trials with phosphorus (2 sites) and potassium (2 sites) on mineral soils and a controlled release nitrogen and potassium trial on mineral soil (1 site). PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
New recommendations have been approved and implemented for phosphorus and silicon for sugarcane on organic soils starting in fall 2012. The phosphorus (P) fertilizer recommendations range from 0 to 36 kg P/ha (75 lb P2O5/acre) and are based on the Mehlich 3 soil test which replaced water extractable P for sugarcane. The Mehlich 3 soil test is an improvement because it includes a measure of reserve P which is important for a long-term crop like sugarcane. Reasons for the change have been demonstrated to growers in seminars and for two years the Everglades Soil Testing Laboratory (ESTL) determined both water P and Mehlich 3 P so that growers could compare values from the two tests before switching to the new soil test. Using a database of about 1200 grower soil samples from 2010, recommendations with the new method averaged exactly the same P fertilizer rate as the water method across the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), but some specific fields had substantially different recommendations because of differences in pH or other soil properties. The improved phosphorus soil test strengthens an important best management practice for the growers in the EAA. An acetic acid soil test has been used for extractable silicon for many years by the ESTL but there have not been recommendations for calcium silicate application. Calcium silicate is an amendment used for increasing available silicon before planting sugarcane and the new recommendations will ensure that growers have the information they need to make cost-effective decisions regarding application of this amendment.

Publications

  • McCray, J. M., and S. Ji. 2012. Calibration of sugarcane response to calcium silicate on Florida Histosols. J. Plant Nutrition 35:1192-1209.
  • McCray, J. M., R. W. Rice, Y. Luo, and S. Ji. 2012. Phosphorus fertilizer calibration for sugarcane on Everglades Histosols. Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 43:2691-2707.
  • McCray, J. M., A. L. Wright, Y. Luo, and S. Ji. 2012. Soil phosphorus forms related to extractable phosphorus in the Everglades Agricultural Area. Soil Sci. 177:31-38.
  • Sandhu, H. S., R. A. Gilbert, J. M. McCray, R. Perdomo, B. Eiland, G. Powell, and G. Montes. 2012. Relationships among leaf area index, visual growth rating, and sugarcane yield. J. American Society Sugar Cane Technologists 32:1-14.
  • McCray, J. M., R. W. Rice, and A. L. Wright. 2012. Phosphorus fertilizer recommendations for sugarcane production on Florida organic soils. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet SS-AGR-348. UF/IFAS Electronic Data Information Service (EDIS) Database. Available at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sc091. University of Florida, Gainesville.
  • Wright, A. L., E. A. Hanlon, and J. M. McCray. 2012 (Revision). Fate of phosphorus in Everglades agricultural soils after fertilizer application. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet SL290. UF/IFAS Electronic Data Information Service (EDIS) Database. Available at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss503. University of Florida, Gainesville.
  • Mahmoud, K., K. Morgan, and J. M. McCray. 2012. Environmental fate of nutrients from ethanol production byproducts for use in sugarcane nutrition. American Society of Agronomy Annual Meetings (abstract). Cincinnati, OH. Oct. 2012.
  • McCray, J. M., L. Baucum, K. Morgan, and S. Ji. 2012. Sugarcane yield responses to mill mud and compost application on mineral soils in Florida. International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Agronomy and Engineering Workshop (abstract). Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Sept. 2012.
  • McCray, J. M., and S. Ji. 2012. Comparison of silica sources for sugarcane on mineral and organic soils in Florida. American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Annual Meetings (abstract). St. Petersburg, FL. June 2012. McCray, J. M., A. S. Kaler, and S. Ji. 2012. Sugarcane response to elemental sulfur in high pH Florida Histosols. American Society of Agronomy Annual Meetings (abstract). Cincinnati, OH. Oct. 2012.
  • Aiken, G., Y. Cai, T. DeBusk, F. Dierberg, C. Gilmour, D. Krabbenhoft, W. Landing, Y. Li, J. M. McCray, W. H. Orem, C. D. Pollman, and A. L. Wright. 2012. Regional mercury and sulfur monitoring and environmental assessment. Chapter 3B In: 2012 South Florida Environmental Report. South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, FL.