How to Fertilize Sugarcane? Correct Fertilization Methods and Precautions

Sugarcane has a long growth period, and the amount of fertilizer applied is one of the main factors determining whether yields are high or low. So, how should sugarcane be fertilized?

1. Fertilizer requirements of sugarcane

According to research, for every 1 ton of millable cane produced, the soil must supply 1.5-2 kg of nitrogen (N), 1-1.5 kg of phosphorus (P2O5), and 2-2.5 kg of potassium (K2O).

2. Nutrient uptake by sugarcane at each growth stage

The overall trend of nutrient uptake by sugarcane at each growth stage is: little at the seedling stage, gradually increasing at the tillering stage, greatest at the elongation stage, and decreasing again at the maturity stage.

3. Fertilization principles

Based on the fertilizer requirements of sugarcane at different growth stages, the fertilization principle established is: “apply base fertilizer heavily, and apply supplementary fertilizer in stages at the right times.” If only supplementary fertilizer is applied without base fertilizer, sugarcane tends to grow top-heavy, thick at the top and thin at the bottom, and is prone to lodging. Conversely, if only base fertilizer is applied without supplementary fertilizer, there is insufficient follow-through strength, forming “rat-tail cane,” which affects yield.

1. Apply base fertilizer heavily

The fertilizers are mainly organic fertilizer, phosphorus and potassium chemical fertilizers, and a small amount of nitrogen chemical fertilizer. Phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer are mainly applied as base fertilizer, because sugarcane's uptake of phosphorus fertilizer occurs mainly in the early and middle stages. Moreover, phosphorus fertilizer has low mobility in the soil and must be close to the roots to be readily absorbed. Sugarcane's uptake of potassium fertilizer also occurs mainly in the early and middle stages (accounting for about 80%). Moreover, the potassium absorbed by the cane plants in the early and middle stages can supply the needs of the later stage. Therefore, potassium fertilizer should be applied early; when the amount is small, apply it all at once as base fertilizer, and when the amount is large, apply half as base fertilizer and the other half at the peak tillering stage or early elongation stage.

2. Apply supplementary fertilizer in stages

According to the fertilizer requirement pattern of sugarcane, the principle for applying supplementary fertilizer can be summarized as “three boosts and one supplement, light at both ends, heavy in the middle.” The “three boosts” are the seedling boost fertilizer, the tillering boost fertilizer, and the stem boost fertilizer. The “one supplement” is the late-stage supplement of tail-strengthening fertilizer. “Light at both ends” means the fertilizer amount should be small at the seedling stage and late elongation stage, and “heavy in the middle” means the fertilizer amount should be large at the early elongation stage.

Because sugarcane has a high fertilizer requirement, fertilizer accounts for a large proportion of sugarcane production costs. Therefore, correctly mastering fertilization techniques, applying at the right time and in the right amount while meeting sugarcane's fertilizer needs to the greatest extent possible, is of great significance.