A Detailed Guide to the Latest Correct Fertilization Methods for Sugarcane

Sugarcane has a well-developed root system and a long growth period (generally 10-11 months), so each crop must take away a large amount of nutrients from the soil to sustain its long growth. Therefore, when planting sugarcane, adding Jinbaobei microbial fertilizer with an effective viable bacteria count of more than 500 million can improve the soil structure, and is very effective at increasing yield and improving the soil.

Applying base fertilizer

Applying sufficient base fertilizer allows sugarcane to sprout quickly, extend its root system rapidly, and tiller early with strong seedlings. If the base fertilizer is insufficient and only later topdressing is relied upon, the seedlings will not be strong, the plants will tend to be thick at the top and thin at the bottom, the root base will be unstable, and they will be prone to lodging. Base fertilizer is generally mainly organic fertilizer, supplemented by inorganic fertilizer. Because sugarcane has a well-developed root system and a long growth cycle, supplementing with Jinbaobei microbial fertilizer can effectively improve the soil and supply the needed fertility.

Reasonable topdressing

During the seedling stage, sugarcane has an urgent but small demand for fertilizer, with a large demand for nitrogen, followed by potassium and phosphorus. Although fertilizer demand is small at the seedling stage, fertilization at this stage is crucial to sugarcane growth. If fertilization at the seedling stage is insufficient, the seedlings and tillers will grow short and stunted, and even if fertilizer is added later, it will be difficult to recover, ultimately leading to reduced yield and quality. For seedling fertilizer, highly soluble high-nitrogen fertilizer is best. Compound fertilizer is recommended, combined with Jinbaobei microbial fertilizer. If manure is insufficient, the fertilizer amount can be appropriately increased. When applying, it is best to combine it with intertillage and hilling and apply it directly in holes, or apply it in holes after mixing with water; in drought conditions, it should be applied in holes after mixing with water. In addition, missing seedlings should be checked and replanted promptly so that the population grows uniformly.

Tiller fertilizer for sugarcane should be applied according to specific conditions. If sufficient fertilizer was applied earlier and the sugarcane seedlings are strong, it can be applied all at once at the tillering stage, and the amount should be small. The application method is the same as for seedling fertilizer.

During the elongation stage, sugarcane has a large demand for fertilizer, accounting for more than 50% of the entire growth period, so fertilizer should be emphasized at this stage. Since phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are mainly used as base fertilizer and applied early, this stage mainly involves topdressing nitrogen fertilizer. The amount of stem fertilizer should be determined according to the field and the seedlings. If the sugarcane seedlings show signs of premature aging, it can be applied all at once; if growth is steady, it can be applied in two applications in early July and early August, with the first heavier and the second lighter. Fertilization should generally be carried out after rain or when the soil is moist, preferably combined with weeding and hilling, applying the evenly mixed fertilizer in strips or holes about 10 cm beside the sugarcane stump and covering it with thick soil. Fertilizer should not be applied before heavy rain to prevent leaching by rainwater. If there is no rain for 3 days after fertilization and the loosened soil around the stump begins to dry, water should be applied promptly. If the soil is dry, drought relief should come first, followed by fertilization.

Appropriate final topdressing

Some people believe that a final topdressing should be applied, on the grounds that sugarcane growth in the later stage and the underground buds both need a certain amount of nutrients. Others believe that final topdressing should not be applied, because although sugarcane needs a small amount of nutrients in the later stage, these can be supplied through redistribution of nutrients within the sugarcane plant and nutrients stored in the soil, as long as sufficient fertilizer was applied in the early and middle stages. In addition, the field is hot and stuffy in the later stage, making operations very difficult. Therefore, we suggest that farmers decide according to the fertility of the field. If the field is fertile and sufficient fertilizer was applied earlier, and stem fertilizer was applied according to steady-growing sugarcane seedlings, final topdressing may be omitted, and Jinbaobei microbial fertilizer can be applied directly as a foliar spray. If the soil fertility is poor and earlier fertilization was insufficient, an appropriate amount of final topdressing mixed with Jinbaobei microbial fertilizer can be applied. The application time should not be too late, and the amount should not be too much, so as not to delay maturity and reduce sugar content. After application, hill the soil. If fertilizer deficiency appears 1 month before harvest, foliar fertilizer should be sprayed.